My research is broadly in the areas of atomic physics and quantum technologies, using lasers and atoms as probes for precision measurement and for investigating atom-light interactions. A large area of work is focussed on developing next generation devices based on quantum technologies.

The main strands of my research looks at

• Atomic Clocks
• Atom interferometry
• Optically-pumped magnetometry
• Ultra-cold atoms
• Bose-Einstein condensates
• Quantum technologies
• Space applications of quantum tech
• Developing components and sub-systems for translating lab research to application-read devices.

I am part of the Experimental Quantum Optics & Photonics group. Further details can be found in our research group webpages -> https://eqop.phys.strath.ac.uk/

I teach the course PH385: Communicating Physics. The motivation behind this course is to develop students’ ability to communicate complex information effectively and concisely. In recent years, working with the Institute of Physics, students on the course have worked in groups to produce short videos that look to explain everyday physical phenomena. These can be viewed on the at these links
Pop Physics 2023
Pop Physics 2024

I am always keen to have research project interns. If you are interested in working in my labs then please email me to start an informal discussion about how we can make it happen.

I studied for a BSc Physics from the University of Limerick before receiving my PhD in 2005 from Durham University. I went on to become a postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA, from 2005-2007, after which I came to the University of Strathclyde to work in what was then the Photonics Group. I held a five-year Royal Society of Edinburgh Personal Research Fellowship starting in 2009. From 2010-2011 I was a Guest Researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD, funded by an award from Marie Curie. In 2015 I was awarded a Chancellor's Fellowship at Strathclyde.