“I began my research career by completing a PhD in Power Electronics at Bristol University before becoming a temporary lecturer there. I came to Nottingham in 1990 as a junior lecturer and I am now the Head of Power Electronics, Machines and Control, which is one of the biggest Power Electronics research groups in the world and certainly the biggest in the UK.
My research is primarily concerned with the interfacing of energy sources. The generation of electrical power and the use of electrical power are not directly compatible, so the challenge is to find ways to convert and process energy that are more efficient and cheaper than the methods currently in place.
This has massive implications for industry. For example, something like 60% of all of the world’s electrical energy goes into electrical motors; by creating a small difference in efficiency, it is possible to significantly reduce energy consumption.
I have personally been working on the concept of ‘More Electrical Aircraft (MEA)’, which is a major driving force in the aerospace industry. For example, the new “More Electric” Boeing 787 will use significantly less fuel than its predecessors, which has extensive financial and environmental benefits.
In the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, PhD students and research staff work within one of four groups. Work within my Group is practically oriented, backed up by computer simulations and theoretical studies, and is supported by over £7 million in research grants. Nearly all projects have some industrial involvement, such as funding, technical input or close collaboration.
Postgraduates are welcomed into a large community and quickly become part of their associated team, receiving support at a hierarchical level from their peers, Post-Doc fellows and lecturers.”