I am a Professor of Physics and the Director of the Materials Science Lancaster research centre.

My research group is focused on experimental quantum materials, we are particularly interested in exploiting room temperature quantum effects in single molecules and ultra-thin films comprised of well-ordered organic molecular films, quantum dots and 2D materials. To achieve this, we have a track record in developing and exploiting novel scanning probe methodologies for nanoscale characterisation of electrical, thermal and mechanical properties.

I am PI or Co-I on ~£11M of UKRI grants including the £7.1M EPSRC Programme grant QMol. I have authored or co-authored on more than 50 peer reviewed journal articles and seven international patents, and in 2025 I was part of the team awarded the Times Higher Education Award for Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year.

From 2017 – 2025 I was scientific materials advisor for Lancaster University spin out company Quantum Base. In April 2025 Quantum Base become the first ever Lancaster University spin out to float on the London Stock Exchange following its successful fundraising and admission to trading.

Full details of my publications can be found on my Google Scholar page.

I have a wonderful research group of enthusiastic post-doctoral researchers and PhD students from a range of scientific backgrounds which is reflected in the highly interdisciplinary nature of our work.

We aim to exploit room temperature quantum transport properties of small organic molecules in massively parallel arrays of molecules formed by techniques such as molecular self-assembly, Langmuir-Blodgett deposition and surface templating. Film structures are characterised by a range of techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Quartz Crystal Microbalance and Atomic Force Microscopy. Electric and thermal properties are studied with nanoscale resolution using our suite of bespoke scanning-probe techniques developed by the group and in close collaborators in Dr Sam Jarvis’ group at Lancaster.

We enjoy fruitful collaborations with colleagues across the UK and the world including: Theory, the groups of Colin Lambert (Lancaster University) and Hatef Sadeghi (University of Warwick, UK); Synthesis, the groups of Martin Bryce (Durham University), Nick Long (Imperial College London), Paul Low (University of Western Australia); Characterisation and Devices, the groups of Chris Ford (University of Cambridge), Lesley Cohen (Imperial College London) and Tim Albrecht (University of Birmingham).

Background

2024 – Professor of Physics, Lancaster University

2020 – Senior Lecturer in Physics, Lancaster University

2015 – 50th Anniversary Lecturer in Physics, Lancaster University

Immediately prior to my lectureship, I was a senior research associate in the Physics department at Lancaster University where I was the work-package leader (SThM experiments and measurements) of the major European Commission programme ‘QUANTIHEAT’ (QUANTItative scanning probe microscopy techniques for HEAT transfer management in nanomaterials and nanodevices FP7-NMP-2013-LARGE-7) involving twenty international partners from academia and industry; previously I was the work-package (graphene characterisation and modelling) leader on 'GRENADA' (GRaphenE for NAnoscaleD Applications, FP7/2007-2013). Additionally, I have conducted research at University of Queensland, Daresbury Laboratory and Cranfield University.

I have a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Wales (Supervisor Prof. Geoff Ashwell) and an MPhys from Sheffield University. I am a past winner of Royal Society of Chemistry, Philip Lynn Adams memorial prize.