Professor Laura Harkness-Brennan

Who/what inspired you to study/work in STEMM?

My A-level teacher was brilliant. I didn’t always enjoy physics, and found it difficult when I first studied it but after a few years I started to really enjoy it, and the rest is history.

I am a naturally curious person, I love watching science programmes, especially anything by David Attenborough, and I always wanted to be a scientist or engineer.

What is your current job/role?

I am a Professor in the Department of Physics, and Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Impact for the Faculty of Science and Engineering. I am part of the nuclear physics group and my research ranges from studying the properties of nuclei to developing new technologies for radiation detection in healthcare. I interact a lot with students, either directly through teaching or through supervising research projects.  I also get to do my own research and sometimes this involves travelling to exotic places.  My most recent trip was to a nuclear structure physics experiment in Japan.

Can you tell us about your previous job/role?

After my PhD, I spent a year as a postdoctoral researcher, and then moved to work for a radiation detector company. I really enjoyed both of these but returned to academia to develop my own research proposals and teach the next generation of scientists.

What is interesting about what you do?

I really like interacting with lots of different people. Some of my research involves me working with clinicians, engineers, environmental scientists and energy experts. I am currently trying to develop new methods to detect radiation, which can impact in science and society.

Do you have any interesting facts about you/your work?

  • I am developing new technology that will help discover new properties of exotic nuclei.
  • I lead the STFC Cancer Diagnosis Research Network, bringing together researchers from different disciplines.
  • PhD students I have supervised are now working as physicists in labs and hospitals all over the world.

Congratulations to Laura who has been awarded the European Physical Society Nuclear Physics Division Prize for Applied Nuclear Physics.

Find out more about Laura and her work: