Leadership Team

Head of Physics and Astronomy

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Francesca leads the Health Technologies @ Exeter Research Network with Prof. Helen Dawes, is a Principal Investigator in Physics, and an Affiliate Investigator of the Living Systems Institute. Her current research is focused on the development of novel applications of optical spectroscopy to biomedical sciences. She is particularly interested in chemical and physical aspects of biomaterials at a molecular level, as well their implications in health-related problems.

Deputy Head of Department

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Since joining Exeter in 2011, he has established a vibrant new, interdisciplinary, research group, obtaining significant research funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the European Research Council, and the Leverhulme Trust. His research interest includes new materials, bio-inspired movement, infrared sources, detectors and spectroscopy, and surface acoustic wave devices. 

He was instrumental in the setting up and successful launch of the flagship Natural Sciences programme, helping to define the ethos and structure of the new programme. He is currently Director of Natural Sciences and is extremely proud to be associated with such a fantastic group of students.

Department Manager

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I am a Colleague Mental Health Champion and the Events Coordinator for the Wellbeing Network on Streatham campus. I am an experienced supervisor with over 8 years’ of experience in managing large caseloads of projects and journals, and creating a collaborative workspace by seeking the input of my colleagues. A trained teacher, skilled in communication both with peers and young people, and a manager with the success of the department and the wellbeing of my team at the heart of all I do.

Director of Business Engagement and Innovation

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Alastair takes a leading role in facilitating discussions with industry and governmental partners, and exploring how their challenges can be distilled into more fundamental questions that the department's researchers can address. Alastair Hibbins is a Professor in Metamaterial Physics and is now Director of the Centre for Metamaterial Research and Innovation. He is Principal Investigator of the EPSRC-funded UK Metamaterials Network, the International Centre to Centre collaboration "A-Meta" and is Exeter lead of the £8M EPSRC Programme Grant Meta-4D. His interdisciplinary team of researchers work on a wide range of fundamental and industry-inspired projects collaborating with many other academics in the department.

Director of Education and Student Experience

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I am a theoretical physicist and my area of research is condensed matter physics. In this vast field I have explored a broad range of different physical effects, with particular focus on the physics of correlated quantum systems at low temperatures in reduced dimensionality. My passionate lecturing style has been consistently appreciated and led to a list of Best Teaching Awards, including the “Inspirational Teaching Award 2022” across all disciplines in the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences.  

Director of Education

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A computational physicist, specialist in fluid dynamics simulations. I have 15 years of experience developing and using scientific software in a variety of topics. I have a strong teaching and mentoring experience, having adopted several academic positions both in Spanish and British universities.

Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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I am an outspoken advocate for greater inclusion and diversity across science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), and I lead PRISM Exeter, a regional network for LGBTQ+ STEMM professionals and students. My diversity and inclusion work has been recognised through University of Exeter and Institute of Physics awards, and regional award nominations. I have also been fortunate to work on a variety of public engagement projects, most notably as a consultant for the ASDC to prepare science museum exhibits to tie in with Disney/Pixar’s Lightyear film, and as a panellist on the BBC’s Sky At Night Question Time special in 2023.

Director of Research

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My research interests lie in magnetic materials, spintronics and photonics, with particular emphasis on ultrafast and high frequency processes. My research group uses a combination of microwave and time resolved optical and x-ray measurement techniques to study structural, electrical and magnetic changes in condensed matter systems. Our research is directly relevant to different forms of data storage technology, including hard disk drives, magnetic random access memory (MRAM) and phase change recording, also to new paradigms for data processing such as neuromorphic computing and magnetics based logic.

Co-director of Postgraduate Research

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I joined the department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Exeter in June 2017 and established the 'Structured Light Group'. We are a team of 4 PhDs students and 2 postdoctoral researchers working on a range of projects spanning experimental optics and photonics, linked by their reliance on 'structured light' - precise shaping of the intensity, phase and polarisation (and also sometimes wavelength) of laser beams.

Co-director of Postgraduate Research and Senior Academic Lead for the Electromagnetic and Acoustic Materials group

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My research focuses on light propagation in complex media, with a focus on imaging through scattering biological tissues. The holy grail of this field of research is to be able to do optical imaging (and/or spectroscopy) deep inside the human body, thus removing the need for most exploratory surgery. On the way there, we study how light propagates in highly non-homogeneous media, and how information is transformed by scattering.

Senior Academic Lead for the Quantum Systems and Nanomaterials Group

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My research group is pioneering the novel science found in nano-systems. In particular, we are currently studying the electrical properties of graphene materials, which are just one or few carbon atom thick with honeycomb structure. Highlights from our recent breakthroughs include the discovery of the best known transparent material able to conduct electricity in 2012 in collaboration with the team of Dr M.F. Craciun. This is FeCl3-intercalated few layer graphene, and its electrical conductivity is more than 1000 times better than the one of pristine graphene.

Senior Academic Lead for the Astrophysics Group

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I am best described as a numerical astrophysicist. I use computer simulations to understand the processes of star and planet formation. This involves performing self-gravitating fluid dynamical simulations, some of which also include radiation transport and magnetic fields. Currently, my simulations are performed on the University of Exeter Supercomputer, and the STFC's DiRAC facilities. In September 2013, I was awarded a 5-year ERC Advanced Grant. In November 2005, I was awarded a 5-year EURYI (European Young Investigator) fellowship, one of only 25 awards within Europe in 2005.