THE STUDENTS
The group of student applicants to the Spin Your Thesis! 2021 programme and core members of the
team.
Using the knowledge of our advisors, we perform the bulk of the tasks necessary for the development
and execution of the project, from experimental set-up design to social media upkeep.
As three Physics undergraduates at Durham University we wanted to go further and take on a
challenging project outside of our Physics & Mathematics modules.
When we found the educational programmes from the European Space Agency this seemed an unmissable
opportunity.
From there onwards, we started looking into the current state of research in various topics for
which hyper- and microgravity research could provide invaluable discoveries.
The mysteries and potential of Near-Field Acoustic Levitation make it for the perfect subject of our
research.
Due to the small size of our core team, we have a very open and communicative work-structure,
continuously dividing and discussing work amongst one-another.
THE ENDORSING PROFESSORS & MENTORS
As part of our application for the Spin Your Thesis 2021! programme we required a professor from Durham University to endorse us. To maximise the potential of our team and the expertise available, we decided to request the support of three endorsing Physics professors, one for every student. In addition to the involvement from Durham University, we have been paired with a mentor from the European Low Gravity Research Association to aid us with the nature of the experimental set-up in particular.
Prof John Girkin
Endorsing Professor
In his research John develops novel optical instrumentation frequently for use within the life sciences and the clinic. This ranges from in vivo detection of dental caries and fibre optic imaging in the lung through the novel single photon detectors for optical microscopy. There is a very strong focus in the development of practical and reliable instrumentation and hence by interest in this project to help develop a system that works under the effects of various levels of gravity.
Dr Richard Wilman
Endorsing Professor
See their Durham University profile page for more information.
Prof. Kislon Voitchovsky
Endorsing Professor
See their Durham University profile page for more information.
Pablo Salgado Sánchez, Ph.D
ELGRA mentor
Pablo Salgado Sánchez is a member of the E-USOC as an ISS payload operator, and has recently obtained his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. His research focuses on phenomena associated with heat and mass transport in fluids subjected to vibrations, and with the thermocapillary effect in microgravity.
THE ESA SUPERVISORS
Various members of staff from ESA supervise our project from start to finish and advise us during the development. These include members of the ESA Education Office as well as the operators of the Large Diameter Centrifuge at the ESTEC facility. They granted us the ability to perform the experiment and review our project along the way.
Nigel Savage
Programme Coordinator for University Student Experiments Education Office
Nigel Savage is a Cell Biologist with 19 year's experience and PhD in the field of immunology and mycobacteriology. He started working at ESA in 2010 on educational programmes and payloads on the International Space Station. Since 2015, he his coordinating the gravity-related hands-on programmes for university students.
Emmanuelle Aubert
Young Graduate Trainee for University Student Gravity-Related Experiments Education Office
After a double diploma in Mechanical Engineering and Project Management, Emmanuelle attended an advanced MSc in Space Systems Engineering at ISAE-Supaero in France, followed by her first job experience at CERN on the effects of space weather on satellite's components.
Jack van Loon
Cooperating Scientist at LIS Facility VU University Amsterdam & ESA-TEC
Having obtained his PhD in bone cell biology and mechanosensing at the VU-University in Amsterdam, he has experience in space and gravity related research for more than a quarter of a century; has been Vice-President and two terms President (elected) of ELGRA and initiated and set the requirements of the ESA LDC and coordinates its use.
Alan Dowson
Coordinator and Laboratory Technician LIS Facility Serco Nederland for ESA
Laboratory Technician and works for the TEC-MMG section in ESA ESTEC since 1988. He coordinates activities for ISO 1 Precision Cleaning Cleanroom, Analytical Lab, Life Science Lab and Gravity Simulation Lab, including LDC. He performs Planetary Protection activities for ExoMars 2016 and 2020, and has supported SYT! since 2010.
ADVISORS & EXPERTS
Our team includes other experts and advisors who have joined the team along the way and have formed an integral part of our design process. Contacted for their particular expertise in a certain field essential for our project, these advisors have contributed notably.
Dr Aidan Hindmarch
Electrical design consultant
See their Durham University profile page for more information.
TECHNICIANS
The team of technicians at Durham University have provided invaluable support to the project, manufacturing the parts we design, giving advice in the design process or providing us with electrical and mechanical solutions.