School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
- School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
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- Steven Johnson
Professor Steven Johnson
York Biomedical Research Institute - Biomedical Technologies Theme lead
Email: steven.johnson@york.ac.uk
Homepage: https://www.york.ac.uk/
Tel: +44 (0)1904 32 2693
Areas of Expertise: Novel sensor technologies, Medical and biomedical devices, Participatory technology development, Biologically-inspired devices
Biography
Biography
Steve is a Professor in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology at the University of York and lead of the cross-cutting Biomedical Technologies theme of the York Biomedical Research Institute. He is an active, highly interdisciplinary researcher and technologist with a strong focus on participatory approaches to the innovation of sensor technologies for healthcare and environmental monitoring.
Steve graduated from the University of York with an honors degree in Electronic Engineering before being awarded a PhD in solid-state physics also from the University of York. After gaining post-doctoral research experience at the University of Cambridge, the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences in New Zealand and the University of Leeds, he returned to York as a lecturer in 2012 where he established the Bio-inspired Technologies Lab (BIT lab) and leads research into hybrid technologies that combine functional biomolecular components with solid-state devices. Research within the BIT lab is inherently interdisciplinary, combining expertise in physics, engineering, chemistry and biology and has a strong focus on translating basic research to address key, societal challenges, particularly in healthcare (e.g. medical diagnostics) and sustainability (e.g. environmental monitoring).
In collaboration with Jon Ensor (York Stockholm Environment Institute), he established the York Equitable Technology Lab in 2023 to explore participatory and equitable approaches to technology development in which users are embedded in the innovation process to deliver solutions that better align with their needs and context. With Thomas Krauss, he co-founded the University spin-out Phorest Diagnostic Ltd. that is commercialising their research into novel analytical technologies based on resonant photonic crystals.
Teaching
Teaching
Final year research and applied technology projects.
Research
Research
My research interests lie at the interface between solid-state physcis and biochemistry and the innovative and disruptive technologies that can be realised when functional biological molecules are integrated with electronic and photonic devices. In addition to conducting fundamental research into these hybrid devices, I am passionate about translating these technologies into application, particularly high-performance analytical sensors for medical diagnostics, biomedical research and environmental monitoring. A particular highlight, performed in close collaboration with Prof. Thomas Krauss, is the demonstration and translation of photonic sensor arrays for multiplexed, medical diagnostics at point of need. This research is inherently interdisciplinary and I have established extensive collaborations with colleagues from across the physical, chemical, biological and environmental sciences. Given the nature of the problems we work on (healthcare and sustainability), I have additionally established strong partnerships with academics beyond the sciences, including with social science and humanities scholars, and with stakeholders outside of academia, including healthcare professionals, patient groups, national and international NGO’s, industry and policy makers. A notable outcome of this ongoing transdisciplinary research is the development of novel conceptual and methodological frameworks for the co-development of technologies that better reflect users needs and context, and that deliver benefits that are distributed more equitably across society.