Sarah Thompson MBE | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Durham University (PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Condensed matter physics |
| Institutions | University of York |
| Thesis | The magnetic properties of plastically deformed steels (1991) |
| Doctoral advisor | Brian Keith Tanner |
Sarah Madeleine Thompson MBE [1] is a British physicist. Thompson is associate dean (research) for the Faculty of Science at the University of York. [2] She was head of the Department of Physics at the University of York from 2011 to 2017. [3] She is a fellow of the Institute of Physics [4] and she was Vice President of Institute of Physics (science and innovation) until 2019.
Her research primarily focuses on thin film magnetic materials and nano-thermal imaging. She won an award from the Institute of Physics for the Public Awareness of Physics. [5]
Thompson completed her Ph.D. in 1991 at Durham University with a thesis entitled The magnetic properties of plastically deformed steels. [6]
Thompson works on magnetic thin films and spintronics at the University of York. [3] She first arrived at the university in 1992 as a post-doctoral fellow. [1] From 1994 to 1999, she held a EPSRC Advanced Fellowship. She was Head of the Department of Physics from 2011 to 2017. [3]
Her main research interests are magnetic thin films and multilayers, spin-dependent transport, spintronics, remote sensing of magnetoresistance and infra-red spectroscopy of magnetic thin films and multilayers and nanoscale thermal transport. [7] By working on the nanoscale, it is possible to manipulate the electron, which is the ultimate nano-magnet, and thereby design new functional magnetic materials with practical uses and to explore the underpinning physics. [7]
She works as part of internal university committees, national and international committees. These include the University of York Planning Committee, [3] the Royal Society Research Appointment Panel A(i) from 2016 to 2021, [4] and the Scientific Advisory Committee to the European School of Magnetism from 2018 to 2024. [8]
She participates in initiatives to increase representation of women and minorities in physics. She was a speaker at CUWiP UK in 2017 at Oxford, [5] and in 2020 was part of the organising committee for the event when it was held at York. [9] Under her direction as Head, the Department of Physics at York received an Athena Swan Charter Silver award in 2012 in recognition of their support for women in science. [10]
Thompson is very involved in science communication and outreach. She gave a Kelvin Lecture in 1998 on Designer Magnetic Materials and has exhibited at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition. [4] [3] She also does teaching at the University of York, including modules on thermal physics, solid state physics and magnetism. [7]
She also served on Strategic Advisory Teams of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for a total of nine years. [11]
Thompson was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 2012 for services to Higher Education. [1] [4]
Thompson regularly performed a dialogue entitled Is Science Chaotic? with other members of the University of York's physics department between 1990 and 2000. The troupe were awarded a Public Awareness of Physics award from the Institute of Physics for the project. [12]