After completing an MSc in welding technology at Cranfield Institute of Technology, John Nixon joined the Underwater Welding Group at Cranfield in 1975. He is currently Principal Research Officer at the Marine Technology Centre at Cranfield University. His main responsibility is the design and construction of specialized research welding and experimental systems for underwater welding. His other research interests include robotic welding, welding parameter logging and analysis for underwater systems. He is a Chartered Engineer and a SenMWeldl.