Gordon Flockhart, MInstP, MOSA

Dr

  • United Kingdom

Accepting PhD Students

Personal profile

Personal Statement

I am Academic Director of the Engineering Academy in the Faculty of Engineering and Principal Teaching Fellow in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. The Engineering Academy is a widening access programme providing students with an alternative pathway into higher education. I have experience teaching at all levels of higher education from 1st to 5th year undergraduate students and postgraduate taught students and supervision of postgraduate research students. 

My area of expertise is photonics and in particular the application of optical sensors for industrial measurement applications. Optical sensing and instrumentation is increasingly used in advanced technologies and I have the pleasure of introducing the field of photonics to 4th and 5th year undergraduate students.

 

Office: Centre for Microsystems and Photonics, R219B (Royal College Building)

Expertise & Capabilities

  • Photoacoustic imaging
  • Laser ultrasonics
  • Optical fibre sensors
  • Low coherence interferometry
  • Frequency swept interferometry
  • Fibre Bragg grating fabrication, characterisation and sensing applications
  • Erbium distributed feedback fibre laser design, fabrication, characterisation and sensing applications
  • Sensing applications of novel optical fibres
  • Optical sensing and metrology systems

Research Interests

I am a member of the Centre for Microsystems and Photonics and my research investigates the application of photonic technologies for measurement applications. Optical sensing technologies provide a range of different advantages compared to conventional electrical sensors. For some applications, these advantages allow optical sensors to provide a unique solution whereas conventional electrical sensors may not meet the required specification. I enjoy the challenge of developing optical sensing systems where photonics, electronics and software systems are integrated. As a researcher this exposes me to a wide range of technologies and the applications of my research can be quite varied from underwater acoustics to bio-medical applications.

 

 

Teaching Interests

My teaching primarily covers analogue electronics, photonics and the integration of them both. I teach at all levels of our undergraduate degrees. I am responsible for developing the academic programme to provide  a successful transition to university for our Engineering Academy programme. I have also developed a new postgraduate class for the Centre for Doctoral Training in Applied Photonics. I also supervise 4th year undergraduate research projects, MSc projects and postgraduate PhD students and EngD research engineers.

I currently contribute to the following classes:

  • EF015 EEE Engineering Academy
  • EE473 Photonic Systems
  • EE979 Systems Engineering Project
  • 19496 4th Year Indvidual Projects
  • EF105 Physics for Engineering
  • EF102 Engineering Skills
  • EE781 Concepts in Signal and Image Processing

I have previously taught:

  • EE107 Small group tutorials
  • EE269 Electronic and Electrical Principles 2
  • EE312 Instrumentation and Microcontrollers

 

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 4 - Quality Education
  • SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Philosophy, Interferometric Interrogation of Fibre Bragg Gratings for Temperature Independent Strain Measurement, Heriot-Watt University

Award Date: 1 Jan 2003

Master of Physics, Optoelectronics and Laser Engineering, Heriot-Watt University

Award Date: 1 Jan 1997

Keywords

  • Optical Sensors
  • Fiber Optics
  • Interferometry
  • Fibre Bragg grating
  • Optical fibre sensors
  • Photonics
  • Fibre optics
  • Lasers
  • Photoacoustics

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