Profile

Portfolio

The Deans of Faculty oversee a group of departments, supporting the activities in teaching, research, management, finance and human resources. In my case this is the science department and associated Inter Department Centres. A particular aim is to stimulate and encourage interdisciplinary activities

In addition I also serve on the University’s Executive Board (The Board), Planning Committee, Planning Sub-Group and Senate, as well as a range of other committees that support activities in the university.

In also retain a teaching and research programme in the Physics Department.

Biography in Brief

Since obtaining a PhD in 1977 I have been active in academic research and teaching, holding posts in the USA, a government research centre and universities.

My research area is nuclear physics and I specialise in studying the nuclear reactions which power explosive astrophysical objects like Nova, X-ray Bursters and Supernovae.

I was appointed to a chair at York in 2000 to build up the nuclear physics group. I later served as Chair of Graduate Studies and then a five year spell as Head of the Physics Department before taking on the role of Academic Coordinator, which became the Dean of Faculty role in January 2015.

Roles and responsibilities

What is your day job?

Apart from the range of duties as Dean of the Faculty in overseeing and assisting the science departments in regard to academic, budgetary and personnel matters, I endeavor to retain an academic role in teaching and research. 

I supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students and teach a third year undergraduate module in Cosmological Astronomy.   I have an active research programme based at the TRIUMF Laboratory in Canada and serve on various international advisory committees see my pages on the Physics department webpages for more information.

Role on The Board

On the Board I am there to represent academic departmental needs to the SMG and help communicate the Board's plans to science departments and inter-department centres.

In addition I help co-ordinate teaching and research and develop strategic collaboration across the science department, as well as to foster links with other institutions both nationally and internationally.

Other responsibilities

Member of the University Executive Board and a range of university committees.
External roles include:

• Editor of European Journal of Physics A
• Member of RIKEN Programme Advisory Committee (Japan)

I am also a past member of the EPSRC Peer College and the STFC PPAN Science Committee.

I act as an advisor on numerous research projects in other European universities and research funding bodies.

About me

What makes me tick?

Working in a lively, fast growing and collegiate university, where the commitment is to both teaching and learning as well as research. 

There are wonderful, enthusiastic staff in the academic and support departments committed to developing the university and with whom it is a pleasure to work.  It remains faintly surprising that I get paid to do what I would want to do anyway.

My vision for the University

As we continue to consolidate our standing as a world class university it will be necessary to expand further. 

My aim is that as this growth occurs we maintain the unique features which are so important to the York ethos – a commitment to collegiality and working together and a feeling of belonging to a small, friendly community.

Achievements

I have served on the Council of Institute of Physics, the EPSRC Nuclear Physics Committee, STFC Science Council, the Editorial Boards of three journals and as Chair of NuPECC, the ESF Expert Body that coordinates nuclear physics in Europe.

I am a Fellow of the Institute of Physics.

Register of Interests

Register of Interests (June 2017)

• Institute of Physics - Hon Secretary, member of Council and Trustee