Professor Laura Harkness-Brennan PhD MPhys PGCert MInstP FHEA

I have established a new research programme to develop room temperature semiconductor detectors or medical applications. This includes a real-time dosimetric system for molecular radiotherapy treatments. The semiconductor detector system is targeted at personalised cancer treatment plans, which will improve quality of life, reduce costs, increase the existing market size and enable changes in treatment planning policies. I am also leading a project to enhance the performance of CZT detectors for breast screening.

I also lead the development of gamma-ray imaging using Compton camera systems. In this interdisciplinary research, I apply expertise in advanced digital pulse processing, algorithm development, Monte-Carlo modelling and image reconstruction techniques to maximise the efficacy of the systems for these applications.

I am coordinator of the PSA working group for the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA), which is a prestigious, collaborative European effort to build the ultimate gamma-ray spectrometer for nuclear structure physics experiments.

I am a member of the Advanced Implantation Detector Array (AIDA) collaboration, a system situated at RIKEN for beta decay studies. In order to exploit AIDA in future beta decay studies at GSI, I have designed and am leading the development of a novel segmented germanium detector (SIGMA) to precisely correlate gamma and beta decays of exotic nuclei. This could potentially revolutionise the techniques of gamma-ray tracking and spectroscopy. I supported the experimental campaign at the Isolde Decay Station (IDS) and led the commissioning and first use of a BEGe detector in beta decay studies of odd-mass isotopes, at ISOLDE.

I have participated in the superheavy elements research programme (Herzberg P.I.), when I joined the ALBEGA, TASCA and SAGE collaborations. In future work, I will utilise very high resolution germanium detectors in x-ray fingerprinting of superheavy elements. I will also support the exploitation of AlBeGa at GSI.

2013-2016: Amina Patel, 1st supervisor, EPSRC
2014-2019: Kevin Tree, 1st supervisor, EPSRC NGN CDT
2015-2019: Lucy McAreavey, 1st supervisor, STFC
2015-2019: Adam Caffrey, 1st supervisor, STFC CASE
2015-2020: Ellis Rintoul, 2nd supervisor, EPSRC NGN CDT
2016-2021: Fiona Pearce, 1st supervisor, GTA
2017-present: Fraser Holloway, 1st supervisor, STFC LIV.DAT CDT
2017-present: Jacob Heery, 2nd supervisor, STFC
2017-present: Olivia Voyce, 1st supervisor, EPSRC NGN CDT
2017-present: Hamed Alshammari, 1st supervisor
2018-present: Sarah Kalantan, 2nd supervisor
2018-present: Hannah Brown, 1st supervisor, STFC
2018-present: Shiyamjith Nathaniel, 2nd supervisor, STFC LIV.DAT CDT
2020-present: Ahmed Alharbi, 1st supervisor
2020-present: Jack Hackett, 2nd supervisor, STFC
2020-present: Owain Griffiths, 1st supervisor, EPSRC GREEN CDT
2021-present: Christopher Everett, 2nd supervisor