Professor Stephen Sweeney
- Professor of Photonics and Nanotechnology (Electronic & Nanoscale Engineering)
email:
Stephen.J.Sweeney@glasgow.ac.uk
Rm 701, Rankine building, Oakfield Ave, Glasgow, G12 8LT
Biography
Professor Stephen Sweeney holds a BSc in Applied Physics and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from the University of Bath and a PhD in Semiconductor Laser Physics from the University of Surrey. Following his PhD and postdoctoral positions, he joined Marconi Optical Components as a Scientist, becoming Lead Scientist of the Laser and Amplifier Technology group. He returned to Surrey as a Lecturer, promoted to Chair in Physics in 2010. He led the Photonics group based in the Advanced Technology Institute from 2010-2015 and was Head of the Department of Physics from 2015-2018. He was awarded a prestigious EPSRC Leadership Fellowship allowing him to focus on developing near- and mid-infrared laser technologies for applications in high efficiency optical communications, sensing and photonic integration. In 2022, he moved to the James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow as Professor of Photonics and Nanotechnology where he leads the Semiconductor Photonic Materials and Devices group.
In addition to his academic role, he is the Chief Technology Officer for UK photonics start-up Zinir Ltd, he has sat on the Editorial Boards of IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics and Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, has guest edited IET Optoelectronics, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics and IoP Semiconductor Science and Technology. His other roles have included membership of the EPSRC III-V National Centre Steering Committee, the EPSRC and UKRI Colleges and the Institute of Physics Semiconductor Physics committee. He serves as an expert international advisor for the EU and several national funding agencies such as the Department of Energy (USA), National Science Foundation (USA), Singapore Research Agency, Enterprise Ireland, Leibnitz Foundation, FWO Belgium amongst others. He sits on the committees for a number of international conferences and has chaired several conferences in semiconductors and photonics. In 2015 he was President of the Physics and Astronomy section of the British Science Association. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and a Fellow of SPIE.
Stephen is passionate about science and engineering and their role in the health and wealth of society. He enjoys engaging with people of all ages and regularly gives talks at schools, interviews for the national press and is an advocate for UK science and technology globally.
Research interests
Working closely with industry, Stephen's research interests range from developing new semiconductors for use in photonic devices such as lasers and photovoltaics through to the development of new photonic systems for use in communications, lighting, energy, biosciences, health and the emerging field of space-based photonics.
His work has led to a large number of published and edited journal papers, book chapters and patents.
List of publications available on Google Scholar
Supervision
Stephen has supervised over 40 successful PhD students and post-doctoral researchers.
Project opportunities are available in the following areas:
- Quantitative photoluminescence imaging of compound semiconductors using compressed sensing techniques
- Quantum dots in photonic crystal cavities for single-photon applications
- Active photonic thermometry
- Advanced silicon based light sources for photonics devices
- Developing novel photonic devices for infrared applications
- Perovskite materials for photonic applications
- Next Generation of Electronic and Photonic Devices by Ion Beam (Implantation) Induced Strain
- Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers for near- and mid-infrared applications
- Optical wireless power beaming technologies for terrestrial and space applications
- High efficiency semicondcutor lasers for telecomms and datacomms applications
Current PhD project students:
- Baltusis, Aidas
Quantitative Photoluminescence Imaging of Compound Semiconductors - Ellis, Aneirin
Novel Short-Wave Mid-Infrared Devices for Si Photonics Applications - Liu, Jingzhao
GaAs Based Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers - Robinson, Matthew
Short wavelength Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers - Zhao, Xingyu
Visible Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs)
- Munro, Connor
Quantum Cascade PCSELs - Yamsiri, Anoma
Towards an active photonic thermometer
Former PhD students:
Name |
Project |
Collaborators |
Destination |
Dr Jamie McMillan |
Metrology of infrared thermal imaging systems for space applications |
NPL |
NPL |
Dr Dominic Duffy |
Type-II and bismide alloys for high performance mid-infrared lasers |
Univ. Marburg, Germany |
ZiNIR Ltd. |
Dr Chutima Termsuk |
Silica based fibres for radiation dosimetry |
|
|
Dr Chris Fitch |
Novel integrated photonic devices on silicon |
UC Santa Barbara, Univ. Marburg |
Retired |
Dr Matthew Sharpe |
Novel semiconductors and nanocrystals for photodetectors |
Univ. Sheffield, Univ. Marburg |
National Ion Beam Centre (UK) |
Dr Timothy Eales |
Novel Mid-infrared Laser Materials & Devices |
NRL, WSI-Munich, Univ. Arkansas |
HM Government (UK) |
Dr Zoe Bushell |
Nanocavity Photonic Crystal Lasers |
Univ. Marburg |
National Trust (UK) |
Dr Scott Jarvis |
High Efficiency Laser Power Converters for Power Beaming |
Airbus |
QinetiQ |
Dr Graham Read |
Silicon lasers for photonic integration |
UCSB, Univ. Marburg, Univ. Montpellier II |
Freelance technical Consultant |
Dr Abdullah Aldukhayel |
Photonic devices for security and sensing |
NTU, Singapore Univ. Sheffield |
Assistant Professor, Saudi Arabia |
Dr Zahida Batool |
Spectroscopy of novel photonic materials |
UBC, Canada |
Assistant Professor, Pakistan |
Dr Michael Lewis |
Quantum nanostructures for mid-infrared applications |
QinetiQ |
Head of Physics, George Abbott School, Guildford |
Dr Nadir Hossain |
Lasers for optical computing and communications |
Univ. Marburg Arizona State Univ. |
Researcher, University of Montreal |
Dr Somporn Buaprathoom |
Nanophotonics for rapid water quality assessment |
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (Dr. Steve Pedley) |
Teaching College, Thailand |
Dr Ben Crutchley |
Efficiency droop in GaN-based solid-state lighting |
Osram & Univ. Cambridge |
1E3 Robotics UK |
Dr Sayid Sayid |
Efficient, high performance devices for optical fibre comms and related applications |
Oclaro |
Harkness Ltd., UK |
Dr Oijai Ongrai |
Novel materials for high temperature measurements |
NPL, Teddington |
Metrologist, NMI, Thailand |
Dr Barnabas Ikyo |
Mid-IR sources for medical applications |
TU-Munich, Naval Research Labs, Washington |
Full Professor, Benue State University, Nigeria |
Dr Joanna Coote |
Ultra-sensitive laser biosensors |
Bookham, Faculty of Health and Medical Science (Dr. Sub Reddy) |
Research Scientist, UCL, London |
Dr Sucheta (Lisa) Ahmed |
Visible LEDs for solid-state lighting |
UC-San Diego CHREA, Valbonne |
Research Contracts Officer, University of Liverpool |
Dr James Chamings |
Dilute nitride-phosphide photonic components |
Univ. Marburg UC San Diego, USA |
Scientist, Met Office, UK |
Dr Nicolas Masse |
Quantum Dot Lasers |
Fujitsu, Tokyo Univ. Renne Univ. Sheffield |
Pellenc Selective Technologies, France. |
Dr Daniel McConville |
Long Wavelength GaInNAs(Sb) semiconductor QWs |
Infineon, Germany Stanford, USA Univ. Marburg |
Northern Ireland Government |
Dr Stuart Cripps |
Spectroscopy of mid-IR materials |
ORC, Finland
|
DSTL |
Dr Kevin O’Brien |
Interband and interband cascade mid-IR lasers |
Univ. Montpellier II Arizona State Univ. |
Amazon Labs, California |
Dr Gunnar Blume |
Novel materials for semiconductor microcavities |
Univ. Marburg |
Ferdinand-Braun Institute, Berlin |
Dr Daren Lock |
High Power Semiconductor Lasers |
Bookham |
Facebook technology innovations |
Professional activities & recognition
Research fellowships
- 2009 - 2015: EPSRC Leadership Fellow
- 2019 - 2019: JSPS International Invitational Fellowship
Grant committees & research advisory boards
- 2002 - 2023: UKRI-EPSRC, College Member
- 2019 - 2023: UKRI, Future Leader Fellows Panel College
- 2022 - 2023: Academy of Finland, Optics and Photonics Review Panel
- 2020 - 2023: FWO (Research Foundation - Flanders), Physics Panel
- 2020 - 2022: FCT (Portugal), Physics Panel
- 2020 - 2021: Enterprise Ireland, DTIF Panel
- 2022 - 2023: EPSRC, QUDOS project advisory board
- 2010 - 2010: National Science Foundation (NSF), USA, Materials World Network Panel
Editorial boards
- 2013 - 2023: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics
- 2013 - 2018: IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics
- 2012 - 2012: IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics
- 2014 - 2014: Semiconductor Science and Technology
Professional & learned societies
- 2021: Fellow, SPIE
- 2013: Fellow, Institute of Physics
- 2006: Senior Member, IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)