Professor Alain Nogaret (personal page) (Research Group Leader)
I investigate the Physics of semiconductor nanostructures, neurons and central pattern generators by probing their electrical properties through an experimental approach to understand quantum and nonlinear phenomena. I develop machine learning tools (data assimilation, reservoir computing) to infer the parameters of ion channels from time series observations. In this way, we successfully deconvoluted the complete phenotype of neuronal ion channels; demonstrated the coexistence of (N-1)!/(ln2)N limit-cycle attractors in spiking networks, identified stimulus-activated attractor switching rules; and built neuronal pacemakers that reverse heart-failure by restoring respiratory sinus arrhythmia.

Professor Kamal Asadi

Professor Simon Bending (personal page)
I seek to understand the magnetic properties of superconducting and ferromagnetic materials by, for example, exploiting innovative scanning probe and magnetometry techniques based on nanoscale Hall sensors. My research work encompasses investigations of vortex matter in unconventional superconductors, domain wall dynamics in ferromagnetic multilayers, the coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in new materials and heterostructures as well as the development of novel electronic device structures.

Dr Kei Takashina
I am an experimentalist, interested in transport devices and phenomenology involving some subset of charge, spin, valley, ions, mass, heat; nanoscale and or bio-inspired.

Professor Alison Walker (personal page)
I introduced the use of device Monte Carlo simulations to understand energy and charge transport at the mesoscale (nm to micron, filling the gap between electronic structure at sub nm length scales and continuum models at length scales of sub-microns and larger). I initiated the use of kinetic Monte Carlo for modelling organic and perovskite devices. I was one of the first to establish the role of mobile ion defects in device outputs. My current focus is on using Machine Learning techniques to create a digital twin, a virtual copy of the device that can be used to simulate real life scenarios such as degradation. The benefit of this approach is much faster and more direct characterisation of materials and devices.

Dr Sara Dale
I am interested in the interactions of ionic liquids with 2D materials for applications spanning electrochemical systems to intrinsic 2D material properties. My group takes an experimental approach to studying these interactions and utilises a range of microscopy and electrical characterisation techniques to investigate the chemical and electronic processes at the 2D material interface.

Dr Adelina Ilie (personal page)
I investigate quantum properties of nanomaterials with designed behaviour at the atomic / nano-scale to induce new functionality at the macro-scale in devices and systems. We cover 2D magnetic and spin-textured materials, multiferroics, 2D molecular networks, and topological materials; with a focus on atomically-resolved scanning probe microscopies and in-situ combined growth, characterization, and integration methods. Applications include disruptive, novel IT technologies (e.g. spintronics and energy-efficient platforms) and systems for quantum technologies; and hybrid bio-inorganic interfaces and systems for biosensing and biomedicine. I am also an entrepreneur having pioneered non-invasive technologies for glucose and other biomarkers monitoring platforms.

Dr Michele Pizzochero
I am a theoretical physicist specializing in condensed matter. My research focuses on understanding and engineering the behavior of electrons in crystals using quantum mechanical approaches, including density-functional theory and simple model Hamiltonians. I am particularly interested in low-dimensional crystals, such as graphene and related nanostructures, as platforms for exploring unconventional quantum phases.

Dr Habib Rostami
I am a theorist in condensed matter physics expert in quantum transport and quantum many-body problems stemming from disorder, electron-phonon, and Coulomb interactions. I study fundamental theoretical problems in quantum materials with the microscopic description of realistic physical properties. My main research experiences are on effective modelling of two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and their heterostructures.

Ned Dreamer (Supervisor: Kamal Asadi)
My work is on organic electrochemical transistors and in particular on nonlinear resistance phenomena in organic thin films. I aim to unlock the potential of organic electrochemical transistors in diverse applications, from biosensing to neuromorphic computing and flexible electronics.

William Fern (Supervisor: Simon Bending)
My research work focusses on the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism in recently discovered magnetic iron-based superconductors. The influence of the underlying magnetic structure on the dynamics of superconducting vortices is being explored with a view to optimising lossless high current conductors for key applications in fusion confinement and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Oscar Leonard (Supervisor: Simon Bending)
My research work involves exploring a novel method for eliminating trapped flux vortices from multilayer superconducting electronic devices by introducing asymmetric vortex pinning potentials with a sawtooth structure. This entails extending previous work on 1D and 2D vortex ratchet structures, where rectified, unidirectional vortex motion was achieved using a symmetric ac drive, to much more complex 3D multilayer superconducting devices driven by ac currents or magnetic fields.

James Lerpiniere (Supervisor: Alison Walker)
I am a computational physicist modelling hot charge carriers, photoexcited electrons and holes that exist in nonequilibrium high-energy states of photoactive material leading to the possibility of solar cells that exceed the Shockley-Queisser limit. Lead halide perovskite cells have been the focus of these studies due to their long hot carrier lifetimes. I am using Machine Learning techniques to identify which input parameters for my model most strongly influence this behaviour and provide the best match with ultrafast absorption spectroscopy measurements.

Jamie Mclauchlan (Supervisor: Habib Rostami)
I am a theoretical PhD student whose research investigates the dynamics of microdroplets as they interact with surfaces. Recently this has focused on observing bouncing behaviour with experiments and modelling this with numerical simulations and analytical models. I am also interested in viscoelastic droplets dynamics and how they are related to respiratory aerosols.

Luke Pimlott (Supervisor: Habib Rostami)

Pablo Reiser Ramirez (Supervisor: Habib Rostami)

Liam Turnpenny (Supervisor: Adelina Ilie)
I use low temperature scanning probe microscopy to investigate multifunctional surfaces and the development of long range magnetic order in monoatomic layers and heterostructures grown on crystal surfaces. Current focus is on designed spin-textured materials and multiferroics.