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Dr Dan Read

Dr Dan Read

Senior Lecturer
Condensed Matter and Photonics Group

Email
readde@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)29 2087 5112
Campuses
N/1.07, Queen's Buildings - North Building, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
Comment
Media commentator
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

I'm a Senior Lecturer in Experimental Physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at Cardiff University. I am also a visiting scientist at the University of California Santa Barbara. My expertise are in the fields of nanoscale science and technology (in particular nanoscale magnetism).

As well as trying to further our understanding of fundamental physics relating to magnetism I am also looking to improve or replace current data storage technologies such as hard disk drives. I'm also very interested in using magnetic sensors for a variety of applications. I have more than 20 years experience in magnetism and magnetic materials.

Previous academic duties

  • Director of Postgraduate Studies
  • Chair of the Postgraduate Committee
  • Chair of the Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity Committee
  • Elected member of the School Board
  • Member of the Research Committee

Biography

I joined the academic staff at Cardiff University towards the end of 2011.

Before moving to Cardiff I spent several years as a research fellow at Imperial College London working on a variety of projects relating to nanoscale magnetism and spintronics.

Prior to my position in London I worked as a post doctoral research associate at Florida State University. My work at FSU was mostly concerned with magnetic materials growth and nanoscale patterning techniques for spintronics applications.

I obtained my first degree and PhD from Durham University.

Professional memberships

  • Committee Member of the UK Magnetics Society
  • Member of the Institute of Physics
  • Member of the American Physical Society
  • GMAG Member

Publications

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Teaching

I am currently on a research focused secondment, my current teaching duties are;

  • Gregynog (residential course for MPhys students, year 4)

My previous teaching duties (as module organiser) have included;

  • Year 1 & 2 tutorials
  • Year 3 & 4 project supervision
  • Year 1 Experimental Physics (Laboratory Module)
  • Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics (year 2 core module)
  • Magnetism, Superconductivity & their Applications (year 4 and graduate level)
  • Introduction to Research Ethics (graduate level course)

My research work focusses on nanoscale science and technology (in particular nanoscale magnetism) and is aimed at understanding fundamental physics, improving data storage technologies and developing new magnetic sensors.

Broadly speaking my research interests relate to magnetism and spintronics. I am particularly interested in studying new and interesting functional nanoscale magnetic materials for technological applications.

Most recently I have worked on studying the effects of patterning magnetic materials on the nanoscale and investigating how changes in shape, chemical composition and structure affect their properties. I am especially interested in studying these systems in order to improve their application for future data storage technologies, but I am also interested in their usefulness as magnetic sensors (amongst other things).

Visit my ReserachID profile.

Supervision

Past projects

I currently supervise the following postgraduate students;

  • Alex Evans

I previously supervised the following postgraduate students;

  • Simon Olivari
  • Kane Esien
  • Matt Hunt
  • Josh Jones
  • Shawkat Jubair