Professor Michele Dougherty

Tel: 020 7594 7500

Michele is Head of Department with overall responsibility for its activities.  She works with the Heads of Research Groups to determine the strategic direction of research and to provide a supportive environment where it can flourish.  She works with the Directors of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies to ensure high standards in the provision of teaching and the production of top quality graduates.  She works with the Associate HoD to manage financial resources and space allocation.  She works with the Operations Manager in striving to attract, retain and support staff who will best contribute to academic excellence, both through research and teaching and in the all-important support roles.  She acts as an ambassador for, and representative of, the department both within the Faculty/College and externally, and she tries to promote the department’s profile.  Michele is enormously proud of the department, and her role within it, and seeks to foster an ethos of cooperation, collaboration and mutual respect within which it can move towards even greater achievements.

Head of Group's roles and responsibilities (internal only)‌

Dr Kenny Weir

Tel: 020 7594 7501

As Associate Head of Department Kenny Weir works closely with the Head of Department and Operations Manager to contribute to the smooth running of the Department. He has key responsibilities in managing the finances of the Department, the allocation of space and Department facilities. These responsibilities include preparing the annual financial plan, allocation of resources, and monitoring spend throughout the year. He maintains an overview of the Department’s research activity and is responsible for providing Department approval for all research proposals prior to submission. He deputises for the Head of Department when necessary.

Luke White

Tel: 020 7594 7502

Luke is the Operations Manager for the Physics Department and as such deals with most aspects of the professional and technical operations of the Department. He works closely with the HoD and Associate HoD and together with other departmental administrative staff, he provides a comprehensive support service to academics. This support focuses on those processes and procedures linked with Finance, HR and Research. He also works closely with the Faculty Finance, HR and Research Services teams and acts as the conduit between these services for academic and departmental staff.

Louise Hayward

Tel: 020 7594 7679

As Research Operations Manager Louise has responsibility for advising on and ensuring that research funding applications are prepared in accordance with sponsors’ terms and conditions and with College and Departmental procedures and policies and also that once awarded grants are managed in the same way. In both these roles she works closely with the Department’s management team, the Department’s research groups and the Faculty research services team. Louise also works as the Experiments Manager for the Fundamental Physics Section

Kalvinder Chana

Tel: 020 7594 6113

Supporting the department administration, Kalvinder works with Louise Hayward to process departmental HR forms, including contractual changes, leavers and starters, probation reviews for non-academic staff, casual pay setup for non-students and academic visitor arrangements.

Gayle Baldwin

Tel: 020 7594 7503

The Physics Executive Assistant works closely with all staff in Physics to ensure a smooth running of Head of Department business. The postholder maintains the website and undertakes PA duties for Professor Dougherty. You can contact the Physics Executive Assistant for website queries, HoD requests, Academic Promotions and PRDPs.