Sarah Thompson
Research partner of choice
Sarah says: “We have the most phenomenal researchers at the University of York - with huge passion for our disciplines and real ambition and determination to deliver far reaching impacts for the public good. There is nothing more inspiring than an enthusiast, and the excitement of learning something new.
“My job is to make sure we are not only the best we can be, but to make sure that our partners outside the University have confidence in us as the research partner of choice. That way our research and researchers can have the most impact.”
About Sarah Thompson
Sarah leads on our strategic aim to produce Curiosity-driven and action-oriented research.
She was appointed Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research in 2025. Prior to this she was the Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and the Associate Dean for Research in the Faculty of Sciences.
She joined the University of York in 1992 as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Physics, having completed her PhD at Durham University.
In her time at York she has had many roles in addition to her research and teaching, including as Senior Admissions Tutor and Head of Department in the Department of Physics and Business and has been the Business and Industry Engagement lead for the University since 2022.
She is a member of the Institute of Physics Nominations Committee, and a Fellow of the Institute of Physics. She has been an EPSRC College member since 2003. Between 2015 and 2019 she was Vice-President of the Institute of Physics (Science and Innovation).
One of the most important things about York is its vibrant, interdisciplinary and inclusive research culture.
Professor Sarah Thompson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research
Public engagement and increasing representation
She has delivered the BA Kelvin Lecture and exhibited at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition. In 2000 she was part of a group from the Department of Physics which received the Institute of Physics Award for Public Awareness of Physics, for their dialogue Is Science Chaotic?
Under her leadership, the Department of Physics received an Athena Swan Charter Silver award in 2012.
In 2012 she was awarded the MBE for services to higher education.
Research interests
Sarah is a member of the Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Research Group. Her main research interests lie in magnetic thin films and multilayers, spintronics and nanoscale thermal transport.
She pioneered the development of magnetic infrared spectroscopy to probe spin dependent transport and now works on nanoscale thermal imaging.
View Sarah's department profile
Expenses
2022-23 Expenses
Below are the travel costs and expenses for Professor Ruth, the previous Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research for the period August 2022 until July 2023.
, 620kb)2023-24 Expenses
Below are the travel costs and expenses for Professor Ruth, the previous Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) for the period August 2023 until July 2024.