A graduate of the University of Edinburgh (BSc(Hons) Astrophysics) followed by a PhD in Physics (Cosmology) at the University of Durham, then worked as a Senior Research Assistant, Senior Research Fellow (on joint project with Edinburgh, British Aerospace-Space Systems and the European Space Agency), Lecturer and eventually, Reader in Physics at the Universities of Durham, Edinburgh and the West of Scotland.

Teaching and research interests in a wide range of aspects of physics, computing and education. Winner of two Awards for teaching excellence, the D. Reidel Research Prize in Physics, the Ramsey Memorial Prize in Astrophysics and of the European Academic Software Award (team).

Has been a Member and then a Fellow of the Institute of Physics; Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society; Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.