Our people
The Materials Innovation Factory Team draws together world-leading research academics with a technical support team whose expertise and capabilities are directly matched to the equipment portfolio found in the Open Access Area.
Professor Andy Cooper, Academic Director
Professor Cooper's main research interests include polymers, porous materials, supramolecular chemistry, and high-throughput materials methodology. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2015.
Professor Matt Reed, Strategic Programme Director for Advanced Materials
Professor Reed has a technical background in chemistry, quantitative microscopy, and data science. He works to create high impact innovation partnerships with other leading academic institutes, government bodies and commercial innovators.
Dr Kathryn Knuckey, Head of Technical Operations
In her role, Kathryn has oversight of around £20m of state-of-the-art shared access research equipment, and leads the technical team in supporting the research of the academic and commercial user base of the MIF.
Dr Jon Mercer, Head of Programme Operations
Jon leads many of the operational aspects necessary to ensure the MIF meets the future needs of its clients. He pilots elements of institutional sustainability strategy within the facility, and helps embed a range of good practice approaches across the faculty.
Dr Ben Slater, Head of Business Development
Ben leads external engagement for the MIF. He promotes commercial access to the Open Access Area, and works with government, corporates, SMEs, and start-ups to build successful research partnerships with academic investigators.