Staff
Learn more about the staff of the Acoustics Research Unit.
 |
Professor Carl HopkinsCarl is Head of the Acoustics Research Unit. His research interests include the prediction and measurement of sound and vibration in and around built-up structures, with emphasis on structure-borne sound transmission. |
 |
Dr Pyoung Jik LeePyoung Jik is a Senior Lecturer in the Acoustics Research Unit. His research interests include psychoacoustics, soundscapes, environmental noise, speech privacy, impact sound insulation, and room acoustics. |
 |
Dr Gary SeiffertSenior Research Fellow within the Unit. His main areas of expertise are in acoustic instrumentation and measurement techniques. His research interests include work in physical acoustics to investigate the possibilities of using sonic cleaning to dislodge dust and to clean industrial plant that is not easily accessible. |
 |
Natalie BarkerNatalie.Barker@liverpool.ac.uk Natalie is a part-time Research Associate in music education for children with a hearing impairment. She is a trained musician and music teacher and her work in the Acoustics Research Unit focuses on the introduction of vibrotactile technology into schools. For more details see www.musicalvibrations.com. |
Emeritus Staff
 |
Professor Barry GibbsHis research interests include structure-borne sound, machinery noise, vibration and sound insulation. He serves on national and international standards committees and has acted as consultant in room acoustics, environmental noise and for noise control engineering. |
 |
Professor David OldhamHis research interests are the fields of noise control in building services, the enhancement of room acoustics by active techniques and computer modelling in acoustics. He is also responsible for liaison with professional institutions. |
Honorary Roles
 |
Dr. Joo-Young HongJoo-Young is an Associate Professor in the Department of Architectural Engineering at Chungnam National University, South Korea. He is currently a visiting researcher in the Acoustics Research Unit. His research focuses on multidisciplinary approaches to architectural and environmental acoustics, with a particular emphasis on soundscape assessment and environmental psychology. |
 |
Dave PoleyRecently retired after a distinguished career as an Environmental Health Officer with over 35 years experience of environmental protection and pollution control, Dave is an active member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Institute of Acoustics. As Sefton's Environment Section Manager, with responsibility for noise control and prevention, he gained extensive experience of dealing with noise nuisance from a wide range of industrial, commercial and domestic sources and a comprehensive knowledge of the legal, planning and licensing issues associated with noise control. Dave is involved with the provision of CPD courses in environmental noise with Dr Gary Seiffert. |
Postgraduate Researchers
 |
Ioan-Alexandru StancioiuAlex graduated with both a Bachelor and a Master degree in Mathematics with First Class Honors in Mathematical Physics from the University of Liverpool (2025) achieving the Willis Prize. His PhD research concerns the development of prediction models for ground-borne wave propagation in a homogeneous or inhomogeneous elastic half-space to assess ground-borne wave intensity with numerical and experimental validations. The work is supervised by Prof. Carl Hopkins and Dr Gary Seiffert. |
 |
Bangzheng GaoBangzheng graduated with a Master of Science degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from Wuhan University of Technology (2024) and a Bachelor of Science degree from Wuhan University of Technology (2021). His PhD aims to understand problematic vibration in museum buildings that is transmitted into display cases which can cause damage to precious objects. The research combines experimental and predictive modelling and is supervised by Prof. Carl Hopkins and Dr Gary Seiffert. |
 |
Jamie HallJamie Hall graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Audio and Music Production from Liverpool John Moores University (2012) and Postgraduate Audio Production from the University of Salford (2016). His part-time MPhil research investigates low-frequency sound fields and sound insulation in recording studios. The project aims to improve understanding of how low-frequency sound propagates within and between studio spaces, and how this affects monitoring accuracy, recording quality, and acoustic design. The research combines experimental measurements and predictive modelling and is supervised by Professor Carl Hopkins and Dr Gary Seiffert. |