David A Homfray BSc(Hons) CPhys MInstP
Profile:
Engineering Physicist with Experience in Management, Safety, Project Design, Development, Integration and Documentation
Euratom/UKAEA Fusion Association JET
, Tokamak Operations Department (formally Heating and Fuelling Department)(Feb 02 to Present Time
Neutral Beam and Pellet Operations Group - MAST NBI Operations Manager - Dec 06 to Present Time
As well as my duties on JET (as detailed below), I manage MAST Neutral Beam Operations providing the day to day managerial requirements in
order to provide operations, maintenance and development of the MAST Neutral Beam system, This involves both a leadership role in which I delegate
tasks to the MAST NB operations team and personally provide electronics, software and physics solutions for upgrades and expansions to the system.
In this role I represent the focal point for other groups to interface with and need to be available, approachable and diplomatic in order to
integrate the many departments and groups to achieve the major goals and milestones of the MAST Facility
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Designed and built as part of three man team, MAST Neutral Beam Injectors Fast Interlock Boards for the protection of 'In Vessel' components due to excessive power loading from Neutral Beams. This involved designing the Microcontroller (PIC18F452) Demo Board, Component requirements and procurement and Solely writing the software for a number of the boards (Bending Magnet Interlock and Bending Magnet Controller Beam Interlock etc.)
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Supporting MAST NB ATO Holder in safety related management including providing risk assessments and analysis
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Managing and providing quality assurance as Owner of all measuring and diagnostic equipment for MAST NB
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Re-Designing and programming as part of a two man team the entire SCADA/HMI system for operation of the MAST Neutral Beam Injectors
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Re-Designing and programming as part of a three man team all PLC's which operate all MAST Neutral Beam Injectors plant.
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Responsible Officer for Diagnostics on the JET High Frequency Pellet Upgrade
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Providing physics support for the experimental community on the JET Pellet Injector as part of my role as Pellet Physicist
Neutral
Beam and Pellet Operations Group - Applied Physicist and
Shift Team Leader - Feb 02 to Dec 2006
The Neutral Beam Operations
Group provides the majority of the heating requirements
for the JET and MAST fusion research reactor plasmas. I
am part of a group of three physicists whose major role
is to provide technical and scientific support for
neutral beam physics and for research and implementation
of neutral beam and interactions with large tokamak
systems. I am a Shift Team Leader leading a group of
three people during campaigns/commissioning in which I
determine suitable beam characteristics for certain
experiments in order to provide the right beam
specifications for the JET Session Leader who is in
charge of the experiment.
Experienced in D/T operations as a Shift Leader responsible for the management and
accountancy of tritium neutral beams in to JET Tokamak
in the Trace
Tritium Experiment
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Providing engineering and scientific consultancy for
the proposed
IFMIF project
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Designed, tested and programmed micro-controller (PIC18F8621) based electronic board
which connects in the form of a daughter board to the various power supply control cards that provide the power
to the MAST Neutral Beam Upgrade. The board has a 10us resolution and is used to monitor, record and output
alarms and controls signals for diagnostic purposes
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Modified
and improved Verilog script for a Mach 5 Complex
Programmable Logic Device for the new Neutral Beam
power supply fast turn on/off system
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Programmed Magnetic Field
Compensation Coil data recorder with specific
integration to JET data store
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Investigated and implemented MAST calorimeter
gate movement control using Parker stepper motor
indexer programmed using their X-Code command language
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Designed
and built stepper motor driver electronics and
software for switch destruction test
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Evaluated, documented and produced experimental re-calibration techniques for
Bremsstrahlung
detector sensitivity issues used in neutral beam
shine-through interlock on JET
Planned, prepared, modified and refurbished BBI Diagnostic During 2004 Shutdown
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Designed
mobile data acquisition software and hardware interface for
thermocouple data in order to determine the properties
and specifications of
hypervapotron elements (beam dump
elements)
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Produced
software to acquire heat profile data for the MAST
Neutral Beam Injector calorimeter, full energy ion
dump and neutraliser with online analysis functionality
Responsible Officer for
Pellet Diagnostics on JET
Responsible
Officer for
Pellet Data Software Code on JET
Part of Enhanced
Program 2 (EP2) High Frequency Pellet Injector Project Team
Produce Commissioning
Procedures and other controlled documents for Both JET and MAST
Deputy Responsible Officer for Neutral Beam Data Software Code on JET
Deputy Responsible
Officer for Operations Analysis Code on JET
Deputy Responsible Officer for Operations Validation and Status Code on JET
The
University of Oxford, FMRIB Centre - Sept 97 to Feb 02
Technology and
Media Development Group - Technical
Development Engineer - Jan 2000 to Feb 2002
The
Technology and Media Development Group was formed to
provide technical support for the Centre. The TMD group
is involved with every section in the Centre and
provides NMR console electronic modifications and
quality assurance for the Physics Group, media
manipulation for the Analysis Group and produces
mechanical components, electronic systems, data
acquisition systems, stimulus delivery devices, software
packages, media manipulation (video, audio and graphic
design) and consultancy/support for the Applications
Group.
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Designed
and Constructed peripherals for use in functional MRI
using mechanical engineering, analogue, digital, RF
and microelectronics
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Maintained, Built and Repaired all PC's in the
Centre including setting up a site wide virus
protection
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Media
design and manipulation including images, audio and
video for the use in functional stimulation
experiments
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Held
Oxford University Paradigm Clinic for the
design/implementation of hardware used in functional
experiments
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Safety
Officer for the FMRIB Centre
FMRIB Centre - Physics
Group - Senior Research Technician - Sept 97 to Jan
2000
My major
role was to commission, develop and provide quality
assurance on a 3-Tesla human MRI system. I was also part
of the development team who designed and built the
stimulus generation tools/data acquisition systems for
functional imaging including hardware configuration,
software implementation and user interface
systems.
- Designed and built Eddy
Current Calibration kit prototype for use in
calibrating and modifying fast changing high voltage
gradients
- Supported
staff/collaborators on in-house software FEST (FMRIB
Enhanced Stimulation Tool) including building
interactive website
- Produced detailed
Preventative Maintenance Instructions, reports,
trouble-shooters and procedures for the FMRIB Centre
and all its relevant equipment
- Technical Liaison
Officer for specialised building and plant equipment
for MRI system
- Responsible Officer for
specialised SMI/AVOTECH Visual System used for
accurate visual stimulation in FMRI
- Deputy Safety Officer
for FMRIB Centre and Display Screen Assessor
Private
Enterprise (SubStation23)- November 98 to Present Time
Hardware and Software Solutions for Industry
- Hardware and Software Solutions, Internet Tools, Web and Media Design, Digital Administration and Management for both business and research including designing a communication tool for Hill & Knowlton (including submitting a design for the 'H&K Financial' logo)
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Designed and Built
Patient Positioning System (PPS) for Japanese Medical
Research Centre
-
Designed medical
electrodes for mass production for UK's leading
cellulite specialist
-
Produced legal report
and constructed experimental test system for the
spectral classification of surgical lights for the
John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
-
Developed working
prototype of 'through glass' touchscreen as a retail
sales tool including building appropriate
hardware/software for Blue Touch Technologies (www.bluetouch-online.co.uk)
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Designed and developed tactile communicator (Buzband) as a coaching aid to deaf sports players in partnership with Glideball Ltd. (www.glideball.com)
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Computer/Server
solutions built for individual applications
Current Operational
Websites
BNFL
(Sellafield) OFSG (Oxide Fuel Storage Group) - Sept 95
to July 96
Technical Support Group in nuclear fuel
recycling plant (THORP) - Student Research
Scientist
-
Investigated and produced document showing
mechanical and electrical safety features of a 150
tonne crane for governmental body (NII Nuclear
Installations Inspectorate)
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Liaised
with management and process team to produce waste
briefing notes explaining waste movement and
disposal
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Provided
solutions to a process related problem in a series of
heat exchangers by researching, analysing and
determining the data obtained over a six month
period
Training/Courses:
- Understanding
Industry (Chase 6th Form)
- Report Writing /
Word-Processing (Sheffield Hallam
University)
- Spreadsheets
(Sheffield Hallam University)
- Total Quality
Management (Sheffield Hallam University)
- Business
(Sheffield Hallam University)
- Safety
(BNFL)
- Confidentiality
(BNFL)
- Departmental
Safety Officer Training (The University of
Oxford)
- Team Leadership
(The University of Oxford)
- Coaching Skills
(The University of Oxford)
- CPR/First aid
Training (The University of Oxford)
- Adult Basic Life
Support (Oxford Radcliffe Hospital)
- HTM(The
University of Oxford)
- JAVA (The
University of Oxford)
- C (The University
of Oxford)
- C++ and Object
Orientated Programming (The University of
Oxford)
- UNIX (The
University of Oxford)
- Further UNIX (The
University of Oxford)
- Linux
(UKAEA)
- Tritium Safety
(UKAEA)
- Radiological
Protection (UKAEA)
- Electrical Safety
(UKAEA)
- Site Emergency
Training (UKAEA)
- Plasma Particle
Dynamics (39th Culham Plasma Physics
School)
- Plasma Kinetic
Theory I and II (39th Culham Plasma Physics
School)
- Magnetohydrodynamics I and II (39th
Culham Plasma Physics School)
- Waves in Plasmas
(39th Culham Plasma Physics School)
- Space Plasma
Physics I and II (39th Culham Plasma Physics
School)
- Low Temperature
Plasmas and Industrial Applications (39th Culham
Plasma Physics School)
- Paths to Magnetic
Confinement (39th Culham Plasma Physics
School)
- Material Science
for Plasma Physicists (39th Culham Plasma
Physics School)
- Computational
Plasma Physics (39th Culham Plasma Physics
School)
- Plasma Transport
(39th Culham Plasma Physics School)
- Particle
Acceleration in Plasmas (39th Culham Plasma
Physics School)
- Wave-Particle
Interactions in Plasmas (39th Culham Plasma
Physics School)
- Laser Plasma
Physics (39th Culham Plasma Physics
School)
- New Approaches to
Plasma Physics (39th Culham Plasma Physics
School)
- Gravitational
Plasmas (39th Culham Plasma Physics
School)
- Physical
Principles of Plasma Diagnostics (39th Culham
Plasma Physics School)
- Topics in Plasma
Astrophysics (39th Culham Plasma Physics
School)
- Chaos
Interdiction and Applications (39th Culham
Plasma Physics School)
- Non Linear Optics
and Plasma Physics (39th Culham Plasma Physics
School)
- National
Instruments LabVIEW Seminar Series (National
Instruments)
- Managing Your
Manager (Professional Development 2002,
Institute of Physics)
- Stress Management
(Professional Development 2002, Institute of
Physics)
- Team Work and
Presentation Skills(Professional Development
2002, Institute of Physics)
- Microsoft Access
2000 (two day course by Skill
Solve)
- Fortran 90/95 (five day course, Feb 2006, Ian Chivers and Jane Sleightholme)
- Proficy iFix Fundamentals (GE Fanuc Training Services, four day course, Feb 2007)
- Mitsubishi A-Series & Q Series PLC (Basic)(LC Automation, two day course, Feb 2007)
- Proficy iFix Advanced (GE Fanuc Training Services, four day course, Feb 2007)
- ATO Holder Course, UKAEA Harwell - three day course, 15 May - 17 May 2007
- Digital Signal Processing (CERN Accelerator School, seven day course, 31 May - 9 June 2007, Program)
- EDY 2.1 Enginnering Fundamentals (BAE Systems/Loughborough University), seven day course, 26 Novembery - 30 November 2007)
- Managing People Skills - Management Coaching(Peter Metcalf, six day course, September 2007 - Febuary 2008)
- Why Not Let It Fail? The Need for Health Monitoring (IMechE, one day seminar, 22 May 2008)
Key Skills and Experience
Computers/IT:
- Environments
(Windows, UNIX, Solaris
and Linux Red Hat)
- Languages
(Java, LabVIEW, Visual Basic, C++, C, HTML, Fortran)
- PCB Software
(Eagle)
- Micro-controller,
PLD, PLC Programming Software (MPLAB, MPASM,
CSS C Compiler, Verilog HDL)
- Databases
(Microsoft Access)
- Word
Processors (Word),Spreadsheets
(Excel), Presentation Packages
(PowerPoint)
- HTML (Front
Page, Composer, CuteHTML, Hotdog, Dream
Weaver, Fireworks, Flash, Generator)
- Audio
(Cooledit, CakeWalk Pro Audio, Cubase VST)
- Multimedia
(Paint Shop Pro, Adobe PhotoShop, Premier,
Persuasion, Illustrator and
PageMaker)
- CAD Skills:
(AutoCAD)
Electronic Technology:
- Analogue, Digital, Microprocessor (Z80, 68000 and
PIC), PLD (ispMACH 4000), RF and PLC (Mitsubishi Q and A series PLC), DSP and FPGA (using MATLAB/SIMULINK and LabVIEW)
Instrumentation:
- Optical,
Microelectronic and Software Based
Instrumentation
Quality and Safety:
Qualifications
Institute of Physics -
April 02
Chartered Physicist and Member of the
Institute of Physics (CPhys MInstP)
Liverpool John
Moores University - Jan 00 to Jan
01
Certificate of Professional Development in
Astronomy
Sheffield
Hallam University - Sept 93 to June
97
BSc(Hons) in Engineering Physics
Four year, thick sandwich course with a third
year on salaried industrial placement. First Physics
degree (May 1992), accredited by the Institute of
Physics, the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the
Engineering Council as fulfilling their education
requirements for professional membership. The primary
aim of the course was to give vocational training in
applicable physics. It helped me foster the intellectual
and experimental skills for a physicist in an
engineering environment. The physics content was
selected to meet the stated needs of modern, high
technology industry. The course aimed to develop the
design and management skills required by a professional
engineer.
Degree highlights
Instrumentation, High Specification Materials
(including semiconductor IC design and manufacture),
Electronic Engineering, Chemistry, Engineering Physics
project: Modelling the Behaviour of Spotted Stars
Chase High School/6th Form (Malvern,
Worcs) - Sept 86 to June 93
A Levels:
AS Levels:
GCSEs:
Other Honours:
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Physics, Chemistry
Electronics, Maths
Maths, Physics, Chemistry, English Lan, English Lit, Technical Drawing, Geography, Technology
Deputy Head Boy |
Papers & Abstracts
Andrews TJ, Schluppeck D, Homfray D, Matthews P and Blakemore C,
"
Activity in the fusiform gyrus predicts conscious perception of Rubin's vase-face
illusion",
Neuroimage 17: 890-901.
Alecci M, Homfray D A and Jezzard P,
"RF Field Mapping of a High Field (3T) Birdcage Coil",
Proceedings of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Meeting, Philadelphia, 7, 2060, (1999)
R S Hemsworth, B Crowley, D Homfray, D Boilson, L Svensson, H P L de Esch, and A Krylov
"Characterisation of the ITER model negative ion source during long pulse operation",
11th International Conference on Ion Sources (ICIS05) Caen, France, September 2005
Dragoslav Ciric, Clive Challis, Stephen Cox, Lee Hackett, David Homfray, David Keeling, Robert King,
Ian Jenkins, Timothy Jones, Elizabeth Surrey, Adrian Whitehead and David Young
"Operational Experience with Upgraded JET Neutral Beam Injection Systems",
SOFT - 23rd Symposium on Fusion Technology, Venice (Italy), 20th September 2004
E. Surrey, D. Ciric, S.J. Cox, L. Hackett, D. Homfray, I. Jenkins, T.T. C. Jones, D. Keeling, R. King, A. Whitehead
and D. Young
"Neutral Beam Injection in the JET Trace Tritium Experiment",
TRITIUM - 7th Tritium Science and Technology, Baden Baden - Germany, 12th September 2004
B. Crowley , D. Homfray, S.J. Cox, D. Boilson, H.P.L de Esch and R.S. Hemsworth
"Measurement of the Electron Energy Distribution Function by Langmuir Probe in an ITER-like Hydrogen Negative Ion Source",
Nucl. Fusion 46 (2006) 1-6
D. Homfray and B. Crowley
"A Novel System for the Direct Measurement of the Electron Energy Distribution Function by Langmuir
Probe in Ion Sources",
Fusion Engineering and Design: Volume 82, Issues 5-14, October 2007, Pages 829–835
Proceedings of the 24th Symposium of Fusion Technology - SOFT 24
A Geraud, M.Dentan, A.Whitehead, P.Butcher, P.Carman, D.Communal, F.Faisse, J.Gedney, G.Gros, D.Guillaume, L.Hackett, D.Homfray, R.Lucock and J.McKivitt
"The JET High Frequency Pellet Injector Project",
Special Issue - SOFT-24 (Proceedings of the 24th Symposium on Fusion Technology), Warsaw, Poland, 11th September 2006
S.J. Gee, , R. Baldwin, A. Borthwick, D. Ciric, G. Crawford, L. Hackett, D. Homfray, D. Martin, J. Milnes, T. Mutters, M. Simmonds, R. Smith, R. Stephen, P. Stevenson, E. Surrey, C. Waldon, S. Warder, A. Whitehead and D. Young
"MAST neutral beam long pulse upgrade",
Fusion Engineering and Design: Volume 74, Issues 1-4, November 2005, Pages 403-407
Proceedings of the 23rd Symposium of Fusion Technology - SOFT 23
Awards/Achievements
Culham Division Award for Significant
Achievement
May 2005
Personal Details
Date of Birth: 1 August
1974
Marital Status: Married
Full Driving
License
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