See my group website: http://web.am.qub.ac.uk/wp/antimatter/

I am a theoretical physicist. The overarching theme of my research is describing fundamental interactions in complicated quantum many-body systems involving structured atoms and molecules. My chief interest has been in the development of theory and its computational implementation to describe antimatter (positrons and positronium) interactions with atoms, molecules and condensed matter, to provide understanding required to properly interpret fundamental experiments and antimatter-based diagnostics of industrially important materials, and to develop antimatter-based technologies including positron traps, beams and positron emission tomography.

I have also contributed to the scientific leading edge of strong-field quantum electrodynamics, and ultracold molecule theory (atomic and molecular collisions and quantum chaos).

A first-generation university student, I graduated 1st class MPhys, University of Oxford (Balliol College, 2008, as Theobald Examination Scholar) and PhD in Theoretical Atomic Physics, Queen's Belfast 2011).  I was a Visiting Fellow to Harvard University (ITAMP, 2010), a Research Fellow in Belfast (2012-2013, strong-field QED) and Durham University Joint Quantum Centre (2013-2015, theory of ultracold molecules in the group of Prof Jeremy Hutson FRS) and the first Junior Research Fellow in the Sciences at Hatfield College, and an EPSRC Fellow at Queen's Belfast (2015-2018, antimatter and atomic many-body theory).

I was appointed as a Reader in Theoretical Physics at Queen's University Belfast in December 2018.

I have been awarded a number of internationally-competitive prestigious Fellowships, including the EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015--2019), a Leverhulme Trust Early-Career Fellowship (declined), EPSRC Early-Career Fellowship (2018, declined) and a European Research Council Starting Grant for the project "ANTI-ATOM: Many-body theory of antimatter interactions with atoms, molecules and condensed matter" (EUR 1.3M, running 02/2019-02/2024).

I have given invited talks at flagship conferences including the International Conference in Positron Annihilation (ICPA), the International Conference for Photonic, Electronic and Atomic Collisions (ICPEAC), the International Workshop for Positron and Positronium Physics (POSMOL), The International Conference for Quantum Systems in Chemistry, Biology and Physics (QSCP), and the American Physical Society's DAMOP and GEC conferences.

In addition to numerous first and single-authored publications in leading international journals including Physical Review Letters, substantial Fellowship awards, and invited talks, my work has been recognised as outstanding through a number of prizes including the 2010 Institute of Physics Rosse medal for graduate research communication, the 2017 ICPEAC Sheldon Datz Prize (awarded to the outstanding young atomic physicist attending the ICPEAC conference), and the 2019 Institute of Physics David Bates prize (for outstanding early-career contributions to quantum, atomic, molecular and plasma physics). 

I am a Fellow of the Young Academy of Europe, a member of  the International Scientific Advisory Committee for the International Workshop on Low-Energy Positron and Positronium Physics (2019-2023), Treasurer and committee member of the Institute of Physics Ireland, secretary of the Institute of Physics UK Atomic and Molecular Interactions Group (AMIG), member of the steering group of the CCPQ (The Collaborative Computational Project Q - Quantum Dynamics in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics), and member of the CCP9 (Collaboration Computational Project in Electronic Structure Theory) working group.

I am a member of the EPSRC Peer Review College and review UKRI/EPSRC grant and Fellowship applications, and am a regular reviewer for international journals including Physical Review Letters and Physical Review.

At QUB I am a member of the University's Academic Council and PhD coordinator for the Centre for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics.

I lecture in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. I was the recipient of a 2021 QUB Teaching Award in the "Rising Stars" Category, with citation noting my successes in delivering an "innovative, collaborative and engaging learning experience"

I have the pleasure of directing a research group of talented postdoctoral researchers and PhD students:

Postdoctoral Research Fellows

* Dr Brian Cunningham (PhD QUB); 2019-present
* Dr Charlie Rawlins (PhD Curtin University, Australia); 2019-present
* Dr Andrew Swann (PhD QUB); 2020-present

PhD students
* Jaroslav Hofierka (graduated Charles University, Prague Czech Republic); 2019-present.
* Jack Cassidy (graduated QUB, receiving prizes for highest degree mark and best undergraduate research project); 2020-present
* Sarah Gregg (graduated QUB, receiving prizes for highest degree mark and best undergraduate research project); 2021-present

Undergraduate students

I have supervised numerous 4th-year MSci student research projects, including Aran O'Hare, Patrick Mullan (now PhD student at Swansea/CERN ALPHA collaboration), Ryan Duddy, Matthew Lee, Joshua Morrow, all received 1st-class project marks. Currently I supervise 1 MSci student and 1 BSc student project. 

JOIN THE GROUP!

I welcome contact from motivated postdoctoral researchers or PhD students who wish to join my team: please contact me if interested.

I am a first-generation University student and will particularly welcome interest from members of under-represented groups, noting that QUB and the Institute of Physics Ireland drive diversity and inclusion initiatives.

I especially welcome contact from those interested in developing applications for externally funded fellowships to be be hosted in my group. Such Fellowships (open to international researchers at various stages post PhD, and with deadlines at various times throughout the year) include:

• Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships 
• Royal Society Newton Fellowship 
• Marie Curie individual Fellowships 
• EPSRC Fellowships
  
• Branco-Weiss Fellowships

I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching (PGCHET) from QUB, and (pending ratification) Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.  

I lecture in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, currently to ~180 first-year students in Multivariable Calculus. Previously I lectured 3rd-year Tensor Field Theory, 3rd-year Advanced Numerical Analysis, and 4th-year Masters level Advanced Quantum Theory.

I was the recipient of a 2021 QUB Teaching Award in the "Rising Stars" Category, with citation noting my successes in delivering an "innovative, collaborative and engaging learning experience".