CV

Education

DPhil Atomic and Laser Physics University of Oxford, 2015.
PGCE Science (Physics), Institute of Education, 2011.
MSci Physics with Theoretical Physics, Imperial College London, 2010.

Research experience

Feb 2020 - Present : Associate Staff Scientist (SLAC)
- Headed international collaborations performing X-ray 2-color experiments, including pioneering the technique at the European XFEL’s HED endstation
- Principal Investigator for the first LaserNetUS experiment at LCLS, aiming to observe metallic hydrogen in shock-compressed plastic samples
- Spearheaded new Quantum Information Science research in the HEDS division under DOE’s ’Fusion for Quantum’ funding initiative
July 2016 - Jan 2020 : Postdoctoral Researcher (HZDR)
- Specializing in X-ray probing of heated and compressed matter
- Directing the analysis of data from two LCLS runs looking at demixing of hydrocarbons into liquid and diamond at planetary interior conditions
- Published two papers on the work as first author, including a comparison of the liquid structure data with first principles simulations in PRL
- Led beamtimes at SACLA as PI, looking at the effects of atomic strucure on sample evolution after direct heating X-ray lasers
Feb 2015 - Present: Specially Appointed Assistant Professor (Osaka University)
- Specializing in shock-compressed matter
- Directed experimental shifts as part of a campaign on the SACLA XFEL facility using x-rays to probe laser-shock-compressed materials
- Published a paper on ultrafast laser-matter interaction probed by XFEL diffraction, as well as contributing to analysis for several other publications
- Awarded ¥3M over 3 years through Kakenhi Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists, for research on warm dense carbon
Feb 2012 - Jun 2015: DPhil Atomic and Laser Physics (University of Oxford)
- Specializing in laser-solid interactions and warm dense matter research
- Led a multinational team in carrying out a 5-week experiment on the Titan laser facility, LLNL, probing temperature relaxation in proton-heated tantalum
- Analyzed X-ray diffraction (image plate), proton spectrometry and optical pyrometry data, with a paper on the results published in HEDP
- Participated in some of the first experiments at LCLS, using diffraction and ultrahigh resolution scattering to probe laser shock compressed samples

Research Skills

Management & Leadership: Written multiple succesful proposals to internationally competitive facilities, including an ongoing collaboration developing 2-color X-ray heating as an approach to generating HED states. Led beamtimes at SACLA, European XFEL and LCLS, in each case managing international and interdisciplinary teams to collect, analyze and publish the results
X-Ray Diffraction: Used X-ray diffraction with ordered (crysalline) and amorphous (plastic) samples, looking at changes in material properties and the formation of new structures under shock compression and heating; previously used diffraction as an ion temperature diagnostic in experiments at Titan and Phelix
X-Ray Scattering: Analyzed Thomson Scattering data from LCLS experiments, including spatially and energy-resolved spectra; looked at characteristic state features in data on an experiment studying high pressure phase transitions
Analysis/Modelling: Modelled and analyzed data using techniques such as radiation hydrodynamics, XRTS codes, molecular dynamics and density functional theory as well as home-built simulations and codes
Optical Diagnostics: Published Visar data from double-shock compressed samples using self-impedance mismatch; previously installed and used Visar and streaked optical pyrometry diagnostics at the SACLA facility and elsewhere
Service to the Community: Served as chair of the LCLS User Executive Committee 2023-24, which works with the facility senior management to address concerns from the users. Serve as an APS Career Mentoring Fellow, working with students and early career scientists to help them find career paths in physics. Mentored undergraduate summer student interns, with their work contributing to to a published article