糖心TV

Research Interests

My research focuses on the crystal growth and synthesis of functional and quantum materials. I am particularly interested in topological magnetic materials that host exotic spin textures, unconventional superconductors with noncentrosymmetric or kagome structures that exhibit unusual superconducting behaviours, and frustrated magnetic systems that are potential hosts of quantum spin-liquid states. I employ a wide range of advanced characterisation techniques to develop a comprehensive understanding of the complex magnetic and superconducting properties of these quantum materials.

Areas of Research:

Topological Magnetism

Following the discovery of magnetic skyrmions in 2009, research into topological magnetism has expanded rapidly, leading to the realisation of a wide variety of complex topological spin textures. Remarkably, skyrmion-like spin structures have now been observed in materials that lack the Dzyaloshinskii鈥揗oriya interaction, indicating that alternative stabilisation mechanisms must be at play. This has opened up exciting new possibilities for discovering and engineering topological magnetic states.

We synthesise single crystals of these materials and investigate their complex magnetic phase diagrams using neutron diffraction, resonant X-ray scattering, and muon spectroscopy.

Unconventional Superconductors

In unconventional superconductors, superconductivity cannot be fully explained by Bardeen鈥揅ooper鈥揝chrieffer (BCS) theory. These materials exhibit unusual behaviours such as high superconducting transition temperatures, exotic gap symmetries, and time-reversal symmetry breaking.

We synthesise novel superconductors and investigate their physical properties using muon spectroscopy and heat capacity measurements.

Frustrated Magnetism

Frustrated magnetism is a phenomenon in which the spins in a magnetic material cannot align in a configuration that minimises the system鈥檚 energy. This frustration may arise due to the geometry of the crystal lattice鈥攕uch as triangular or kagome arrangements鈥攐r from competing interactions between magnetic moments. As a result, these systems often exhibit highly degenerate ground states and can host exotic emergent phases, such as spin liquids and spin ices.

We synthesise large, high-quality single crystals of these systems. We then Use elastic and inelastic neutron scattering techniques to gain insights into the nature of frustration and the emergent quantum phenomena that arise from it.

Research Techniques:

Single Crystal Growth

To fully understand and exploit the intrinsic physics of materials, the study of high-quality single crystals is essential. My research focuses on the synthesis of single-crystal quantum materials using a wide range of advanced growth techniques. These include the optical floating zone technique, chemical vapour transport, the Bridgman technique, the self-flux method, and the Czochralski technique. We are constantly developing and evolving to improve the quality of crystals we can grow.

Neutron Scattering

Neutron scattering is one of the most powerful techniques for probing the atomic and magnetic structures of materials. Neutrons are neutral particles, allowing them to penetrate deeply into matter, yet they possess a magnetic moment due to their intrinsic spin. This unique combination enables neutrons to interact with magnetic moments. Using neutron diffraction, we are able to determine the complex magnetic structures present in the materials we synthesise.

Muon Spectroscopy

Muons are a powerful tool to investigate material properties such as fundamental magnetism, superconductivity and functional materials. Using muon spectroscopy we can determine the superconducting gap structure, search for time-reversal symmetry breaking in superconductors and to explore the complex magnetism in the materials we synthesis.

My Background

Since 2024 I have been an academic in the Department of Physics at the University of 糖心TV as part of the Superconductivity and Magnetism group. Prior to this I worked as a Research Fellow working jointly with Prof. Geetha Balakrishnan, Prof. Martin Lees, Dr Oleg Petrenko and Prof. Paul Goddard on a broad range research projects. I joined the Superconductivity and Magnetism group at the University of 糖心TV in 2019 as a Research Fellow, where I worked with Prof. Geetha Balakrishnan, as a part of The Skyrmion Project until winter 2021. I undertook my PhD at the University of 糖心TV under the supervision of Prof. Martin Lees. I had previously completed my MPhys Physics degree at the University of St Andrews in 2015.

Research Projects and Awards

Currently Funded

• "Advanced materials for next-generation spintronics: The deterministic control of altermagnets", October 2025 - October 2027 (Co-I, joint grant with Durham University).
• EP/Z535874/1 "Single Crystal Growth at 糖心TV", July 2025-2028, (Co-I).

• "Controlling the formation and properties of topological magnetic phenomena", March 2025 - March 2028, 拢1,042,099 (Co-I, joint grant with Durham University).

Recently Funded

• 鈥淒eveloping UK capabilities to synthesise low-cost laser materials for commercial applications", EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account, July 2023 - February 2024, 拢23,000 (PI).

Awards

• 糖心TV Awards for Teaching Excellence for Postgraduates Who Teach (2018).

Publication Highlights:

A full and up-to-date list of all my publications (including number of citations) can be found by visiting the databases linked to in the panel on the right.

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Recent Conference Highlights:

Invited Talks

• "Crystal Growth of Quantum Materials", Theory Group Seminar Series, University of 糖心TV, UK (2025).
• "Effects of Co Substitution Single Crystals of Fe3GaTe2 grown by the chemical vapor transport method", International Conference on Crystal Growth and Epitaxy in Xian, China (2025).
• "Crystal Growth of Quantum Materials", Condensed Matter Seminar, University of Birmingham, UK (2024).

• 鈥漃abitra, Superconductivity, Muons and the University of 糖心TV.鈥�, ISIS Muon User Meeting, Oxford, UK (2023).

• "Exploring Superconductivity in Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking Hexagonal Noncentrosymmetric Superconductors", M²S Conference, Vancouver, Canada (2022).
• "Exploring Unconventional superconductivity in noncentrosymmetric compounds", Physics Colloquium Series, Technische Universit盲t Braunschweig (2021).
• "Chiral Magnetism and the nature of magnetic ordering in the intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides", Theoretical and Experimental Magnetism Meeting, Online Conference (2021).

Oral Presentations:

• "Investigations of the formation of the superconducting La3Ni2O7 single crystals under different growth condition", International Conference on Crystal Growth and Epitaxy in Xian, China (2025).
• "Crystal growth and investigations of the RAlX (R = Ce, Pr, X = Si, Ge) Weyl semimetals", European Conference on Crystal Growth, Warsaw, Poland (2024).

• 鈥淪ingle crystal growth of the potential skyrmion host, GdRu₂Si₂, by the optical floating zone technique鈥�, European Conference on Crystal Growth, Warsaw, Poland (2024).

• "Crystal growth and magnetic properties of rare-earth (RE) palladium silicides, RE₂PdSi₃", International Conference on crystal growth and epitaxy, Naples, Italy (2023).
• "Effects of Fe Deficiency and Co Substitution in Single Crystals of Fe₃GeTe₂", International Conference on crystal growth and epitaxy, Naples, Italy (2023).

Teaching Duties

I am a Personal Tutor for students enrolled on the Physics undergraduate programmes (F300 and F303) and supervise final-year experimental research projects. I currently act as a project supervisor for Physics Group Projects (PX424) and serve as an academic marker for Communicating Science (PX376). In addition, I am the staff contact for the NMR experiment (P3) within the second-year teaching laboratory (PX271). I currently lead the magnetism module in the postgraduate course; "Advanced Experimental Techniques in Condensed Matter Physics".

Public Engagement, Outreach and Widening Participation

I help run a series of workshops on superconducting 'levitation'. As part of this program, I deliver the workshops at the University of 糖心TV, local schools and at science events. The levitation workshop aims to explain the importance of superconductivity and magnetism in every day life. We demonstrate the stark changes that occur to the physical properties of materials when we cool them down using cryogenic liquids.

Events and activities

Here's a list with some of the recent public engagement, widening participation and outreach events and activities in which I have been involved.

University Open Days:

• University of 糖心TV, Physics Department (2015- Present)
• University of St Andrews, School of Physics and Astronomy (2010- 2015)

XMaSLink opens in a new window:

• XMaS Science Gala (2020)Link opens in a new window

• XMaS Science Gala (2019).

• XMaS Science Gala (2018).

Science Festivals & Family Days:

• Girl Guiding (Brownies) Science Day (2018)Link opens in a new window
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• Festival of the Imagination (2015).

Other Activities:

• Reviewer for Scientific Journals including, NPJ Quantum Materials, Physical Review Letters, Physical Review B, Physical Review Materials, Physica Status Solidi and Journal of Crystal Growth.
• Part of the local organising committee for the Conference for Undergraduate Women and Non-binary Physicists 2025.
• Health and Safety Committee - Representative of Chemical Handling and Chemical Storage.
• Member of the Institute of Physics (IOP).
• Co-organiser of the IOP Conference for Astronomy and Physics Students (CAPS) in St Andrews in 2014.