Meet the Organisers

Senior Teaching Fellow, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde.

I love colour; everything from colour-changing nail varnish and glow-in-the-dark stickers to stained glass windows and rainbows.  My Masters, PhD and post-doc allowed me to investigate colourful materials with chemistry and physics by studing the spectrocopy of organic compounds for LCD and OLED displays.  But it was after a year teaching in a secondary school in one of the most deprived areas of the country, that I realised I could have my greatest impact by helping others develop their understanding of physics concepts and equip them with transferable skills so they could follow their dreams.

I’ve been a teaching focussed academic for over 12 years and it’s allowed me to do some amazing things. I’ve supported student field trips to Dalian, China; Teide Observatory, Tenerife and I even set up a teaching lab in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.  At the Central Teaching Laboratories, University of Liverpool, I was part of a team that set up a world-leading multidisciplanary teaching laboratory, developed a national network for sharing good practice in STEM education during COVID and was co-recipient of a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence in 2015.

I am now a Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.  This role allows me to tap into my core drivers; I lead teaching initiatives including the development of an integrated skills and labortaory curriculum, increasing opportunities for HE careers for students from deprived areas through public engagment and collaborate to establish our own Physics Education Research Group.  And I’m surrounded by colour! (In the Department of Phsyics, all the research groups are either spectroscopy, photonics, quantum, plasmas or a combination of all four!)

I am a Professor of Materials Physics at University of Liverpool, doing research in the Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy (SIRE).  My work is focussed on understanding and developing new materials to improve solar cells and batteries. As an undergraduate, I studied Maths and Physics. I completed my PhD in 2002 at University of Warwick in experimental Surface Physics and then moved my research to Semiconductor Materials and Renewable Energy applications during my postdoctoral research and fellowship. I moved to Liverpool as a physics lecturer in 2012 when the SIRE was established. Until recently, I taught year 1 Thermodynamics and now I teach Statistical Physics in year 3. I have two daughters who are 12 and 9 years old - seeing their experience so far has influenced my interest in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). I was Department Director of EDI from 2018 to 2022. During that time, I helped our Liverpool Women in Physics group compile the bid to host the conference and I hope that you find CUWiP inspiring!

I'm an EPSRC Early Career Fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of Liverpool. I completed my undergraduate and PhD degrees at the University of Sydney, Australia, moving to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oxford in 2012. Our Cold Chemical Physics research group relocated to the Department of Physics at the University of Liverpool in 2021. Our research use techniques including laser cooling and the application of external electric and magnetic fields to study the reactions of ions and radicals in the gas phase and at surface interfaces. I currently teach the first year thermodynamics course here at Liverpool. I have a 5-year-old daughter and I'm the Deputy Director of EDI in Physics. I'm very excited that we're hosting 2023 CUWiP in Liverpool!

MPhys Undergraduate Student, University of Liverpool

I am in the 3^rd year of my undergraduate integrated Master’s degree in physics. My physics interests are particle physics and accelerator physics. I also enjoy electronics and coding. I am passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion as a member of the School of Physical Sciences Equality and Diversity Committee, as well as designing and delivering accessible outreach and public engagement activities to a variety of underrepresented groups. I am excited to be a part of this committee, working on such a diverse conference.

PhD Student, University of Liverpool

I’m Abbie and I’m a first year PhD student at University of Liverpool, studying nuclear and particle physics as part of the High Energy Physics group. My project is based on gamma-ray spectroscopy and neutron capture experiments. I have previously been a member, secretary and president of Liverpool’s Women in STEM student society, as well as actively participated in other initiatives and outreach activities to get more women and under-represented groups into physics. I’m so pleased to be able to help with the organisation of CUWiP 2023 and I’m excited to see all of our plans in action!

ARI, LJMU

I am a Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at the Astrophysics Research Institute of LJMU. I am also the chair of the ARI EDI committee, which promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in the Department. I have been serving on the IOP Juno (gender equality award) assessment panel. I am excited to be part of the team bringing CUWiP to Liverpool, and I am looking forward meeting you all in March. My research interests are around Time Domain Astronomy and Gravitational Wave Astrophysics including electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave events, gamma-ray bursts, relativistic hydrodynamics, and stellar dynamics around massive black holes.  Before joining LJMU, I did my PhD and postdocs in Japan, Israel, and the US.

PhD Student, University of Liverpool

I’m Hannah and I am a final year PhD student working in the Nuclear Instrumentation group. My PhD project involves developing a detector system for low dose Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI), which is a nuclear medicine technique to detect breast cancer. After finishing my PhD, I plan to continue my study of Medical Physics by completing the Science Training Programme (STP). As a founder the Liverpool Women in Physics group and a member of the EDI Champions committee, I am committed to promoting women in STEM and influencing positive change so that women are encouraged and supported in male-dominated subjects like Physics. I am excited to be part of the CUWIP organising committee and look forward to welcoming you all to Liverpool! 

ARI, LJMU

I am Professor of Astronomy Education and Engagement and Director of the National Schools' Observatory (NSO) at Liverpool John Moores University, roles which combine "normal" academic activities for research and lecturing with responsibilities for public engagement and school education. The NSO gives school students of all ages access to the world's largest robotic telescope, using the appeal of astronomy to engage pupils with wider STEM subjects, especially those who are currently under-represented in STEM careers. I am also the head of public engagement for the department, using  20+ years of experience to support staff and students to take part in hundreds of events to a combined audience of tens of thousands each year. In addition, I have experience in collaborative engagement, in particular with artists, with projects including collaborations with a children's theatre company, a dance group, visual artists, composers and more, prize-winning show gardens, and exhibitions at Tate Liverpool and the London Design Biennale.

I'm currently a final year MPhys student, hoping to pursue a particle physics PhD. My masters project is with the particle physics cluster, investigating geometries for a novel detector at the LHC.

I attended CUWiP in March 2022, hosted by Glasgow and Strathclyde, and found it an empowering and inspiring experience. I'm very excited for the conference to come to Liverpool and I hope attendees find the experience as enjoyable as I did!

I currently work across the School of Physical Sciences, with my main role being one of the Management Services Administrators in the Physics department. My background is in Modern Languages studies, as I am particularly passionate about travelling and learning new cultures. I am also really passionate about EDI matters, and have sat on various EDI committees across the University and have contributed to many events to help promote and spread awareness of EDI values. I am excited to welcome all to our event and look forward to it.