Knowledge Exchange Fellow
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
The Department of Physics has a very large and diverse portfolio of STFC-funded research, as part of a wider programme of research activity supported by many funding agencies. Some of this research has already found application elsewhere, in both other academic disciplines (e.g. engineering and chemistry) and commercial development (e.g. metrology and radiofrequency devices), but much has potential yet to be fully explored. The University has an active technology transfer office, Oxford University Innovation (OUI), which can assist in patent applications, licensing, spin-out companies and consulting once a customer or market is identified and the technology has reached proof of concept. However, the majority of new applications for our research, and for collaborative research projects with industry, require a close, direct knowledge of our portfolio, an understanding of the challenges to commercialisation from physics, as well as dedicated time and effort to explore potential opportunities. An IPS Fellow based in the department has played a unique role in increasing our knowledge exchange in both scope and extent, transforming our ability to transfer technology to and from other domains. The Department of Physics is part of the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS) Division of the University, and thus this role has synergies with complementary activities in MPLS, including training activities for staff and students in enterprise and entrepreneurship and support for managing large industry-funded research programmes. The University also has a Knowledge Exchange and Impact Team within its Research Services office, which supports University-wide activity, such as administering research council Impact Acceleration Accounts, liaising with stakeholders such as the Local Economic Partnership and coordinating communication of impact case studies. The Fellow is key to ensuring STFC-funded research as well as staff and students funded by STFC are recognised and supported to achieve impact by these wider support teams.
Like most Physics Departments, Oxford faces challenges in the pursuit of realising impact from its research, some of which are more prevalent in the STFC community. It is here, where the Oxford IPS Fellow is having the most significant influence. STFC-funded research projects often begin and end at lower Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) compared to those funded by other research councils and are not, generally, aimed at specific applications beyond academia. This makes understanding the Pathways to Impact of a research project a particular challenge for the academic and consequently reduces the probability of non-academic impact arising from the work. The two Oxford Fellows in post to date have been able to address this disadvantage before projects are started, as well during and after a project has ended, by using their professional experience of knowledge exchange and their dedicated resource.
This application requests the two year extension to the Oxford IPS Fellowship.
Like most Physics Departments, Oxford faces challenges in the pursuit of realising impact from its research, some of which are more prevalent in the STFC community. It is here, where the Oxford IPS Fellow is having the most significant influence. STFC-funded research projects often begin and end at lower Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) compared to those funded by other research councils and are not, generally, aimed at specific applications beyond academia. This makes understanding the Pathways to Impact of a research project a particular challenge for the academic and consequently reduces the probability of non-academic impact arising from the work. The two Oxford Fellows in post to date have been able to address this disadvantage before projects are started, as well during and after a project has ended, by using their professional experience of knowledge exchange and their dedicated resource.
This application requests the two year extension to the Oxford IPS Fellowship.
Publications
Accettura C
(2023)
Towards a muon collider
in The European Physical Journal C
Arrutia Sota P
(2022)
Millisecond burst extractions from synchrotrons using RF phase displacement acceleration
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Batsch F
(2021)
Transition between Instability and Seeded Self-Modulation of a Relativistic Particle Bunch in Plasma.
in Physical review letters
Batsch F
(2021)
Transition between Instability and Seeded Self-Modulation of a Relativistic Particle Bunch in Plasma
in Physical Review Letters
Chappell J
(2021)
Experimental study of extended timescale dynamics of a plasma wakefield driven by a self-modulated proton bunch
in Physical Review Accelerators and Beams
Gschwendtner E
(2022)
The AWAKE Run 2 Programme and Beyond
in Symmetry
Jakobsson O
(2021)
Gev-Scale Accelerators Driven by Plasma-Modulated Pulses from Kilohertz Lasers.
in Physical review letters
Morales Guzmán P
(2021)
Simulation and experimental study of proton bunch self-modulation in plasma with linear density gradients
in Physical Review Accelerators and Beams
Spiers BT
(2021)
Methods for extremely sparse-angle proton tomography.
in Physical review. E
Verra L
(2022)
Controlled Growth of the Self-Modulation of a Relativistic Proton Bunch in Plasma.
in Physical review letters
Description | see case studies submitted |
Exploitation Route | see case studies submitted |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Security and Diplomacy |
URL | https://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/enterprise/impact |
Description | Case studies have been submitted to STFC |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Security and Diplomacy |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | STFC IAA |
Amount | £1,760 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2018 |
End | 12/2018 |
Description | Enterprising Women |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | The event was aimed at increasing awareness of women in enterprise roles and encouraging participation by women researchers in knowledge exchange and commercialisation activities. 50 people attended to listen to a female Physics alumni who has started her own company. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/events/2018/02/27/enterprising-women |
Description | Oxford Space Industry Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Oxford Physics hosted the inaugural Oxford Space Research Network Industry Day on 27th September 2018, with over 170 delegates registered from the Space industry and across the university. he purpose of the day was to: Showcase Oxford University research and innovation of relevance to the space sector Collaborate with partners (e.g. ESA, RAL Space and the Satellite Applications Catapult) in showcasing our joint capabilities Enable Oxford University researchers to understand the challenges and opportunities faced by the space sector Enable potential collaborations between Oxford University researchers and the space sector to be initiated The audience for the day was: Industry and government representatives involved in space research and innovation Spin-out companies and start-ups interested in working in the space sector Researchers currently involved in space research, or in adjacent technology areas of potential importance to space, who want to showcase their work and develop collaborations |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/enterprise/research-and-collaboration/space-industry-day |