Meet our new researchers from the Department of Physics

In this next instalment, we spoke to Jan Tomczak, Ivana Savic, and Stefano Bo from the Department of Physics. 

Dr Ivana Savic is a Senior Lecturer in Physics. Her research focuses on the development of theoretical and computational approaches to characterise and predict the transport and ultrafast processes in bulk and nanostructured materials.

What first attracted you to the field of physics?

I remember being very interested in electromagnetism from the moment I started learning it in school. I think that this might have had something to do with the fact that electromagnetism wasn't as intuitive as classical mechanics, and yet it impacted everyday life in a very significant way. Electromagnetism is the reason why I studied Engineering Physics, and then spent a considerable part of my research career applying the laws of quantum and statistical physics to understand electricity in various types of materials. I am very happy that I will continue doing that at the same university where James Clerk Maxwell developed the classical theory of electromagnetism.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about physics?

In my experience, people outside of my work environment rarely ask me physics related questions. I am not sure if this is because they consider it to be a too difficult topic for a casual conversation, which certainly shouldn't be the case. I think that outreach events are doing a great job in changing the perception that physics is way too hard to understand for most people, and people who are not physicists are becoming more confident in asking physics-related questions.

What's an exciting project that you're working on at the moment?

I am working on developing theoretical and computational models that would explain electrical phenomena in some novel classes of materials - so called topological materials. The quantum-mechanical properties of these materials at low temperatures, which are close to zero Kelvin, are truly fascinating. My research questions ask whether these properties can exist at room temperature, where thermal effects tend to destroy quantum-mechanical coherence, and whether they be used for computing or energy harvesting applications near room temperature.

What are you most proud of in your career to date?

Over the last decade, I have developed my own research directions which have helped understanding processes related to converting temperature gradients across a material into electricity, and which could be used to scavenge waste heat and power miniaturised devices. I have led a relatively large research team working on these problems, consisting of several PhD students and postdocs. I am very proud of their own achievements and personal development during our collaborative work, as well as their successes after moving on to new roles in academia and industry.

Dr Jan Tomczak is a Senior Lecturer in Physics. His research focuses on electronic, optical, and thermoelectric properties of correlated materials, using realistic computer simulations.

What first attracted you to the field of physics?

Science has always fascinated me. I initially picked physics as it sits at the perfect juncture between mathematics and engineering. As I sat in my first theoretical physics lecture, I knew I was exactly where I wanted to be.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about physics?

I think the biggest misconception is to think that physics is something complicated or aloof. To me it is like learning a language: once you understand its basic grammar and build a rudimentary vocabulary, you can start conversing. Nevertheless, to become a proficient writer in a language, being able to introduce new idioms or even rewrite its grammar – which is what research is all about – will require hard work at least as much as talent.

What's an exciting project that you're working on at the moment?

We have recently theorised a new paradigm for storing information on a device that is only a few nanometers thick. While we still have to investigate the idea and its feasibility further, I am very excited that our fundamental research could potentially be of direct technological relevance.

What are you most proud of in your career to date?

There are certainly a few projects that I am quite proud of, ranging from establishing microscopic explanations for ill-understood phenomena to developing new methodologies and computer codes that push the boundaries of quantitative simulations for quantum materials. However, whenever my students come to share their latest research breakthroughs with me, full of enthusiasm and excitement, that puts the biggest smile on my face.

Dr Stefano Bo is a Lecturer in Physics. He is part of the Biological Physics and Soft Matter group and his research focuses on randomness - how it impacts living systems, and the strategies to cope with it and exploit it.

What first attracted you to the field of physics?

I realised early on in life that trying to understand how the world works added to its beauty. This attracted me to science and I liked the fact that physics addresses truly fundamental questions looking to unveil the underlying general principles.

During my undergraduate studies, I witnessed how life sciences progressively became more quantitative, inviting the application of tools and concepts from physics. The fact that living systems are constantly solving very difficult physics problems to survive and prosper truly fascinates me.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about physics?

I think many people believe that physics is just about dry facts and answers. I find it to be very much about the questions, the reasoning, and the analogies. It is in this spirit, that a physics mindset can be applied to solve problems in different fields, including life sciences. 

What's an exciting project that you're working on at the moment?

I am working on understanding how cells use physics to organise their internal structure. It has recently been shown that, in addition to building compartments that need membranes to separate them from the rest, cells can construct compartments that do not need membranes. Their dynamics can be explained using the same physical theories that describe how oil and water do not mix but form separate coexisting phases. I am interested in understanding how these compartment help cells to function reliably despite the uncertainty and randomness that dominates the world at their scale. 

What are you most proud of in your career to date?

I am proud of working in an interdisciplinary environment where I have managed to establish fruitful interactions between my theoretical investigations and the work of my experimental collaborators, who sometimes come from very different backgrounds.