Prof Duncan Hand has been at Heriot-Watt University since 1991, following his PhD studies at the University of Southampton. He leads research activity in applications of high power lasers, particularly in manufacturing, with additional work on optical sensing, and also on surgical applications of lasers. He is currently leading a suite of projects funded by EPSRC, Scottish Enterprise and industry. His manufacturing research encompasses micro-welding, surface modification, surface patterning, engraving, and micro-machining, covering a range of applications areas from ship engine parts to miniature medical devices. He is Director of the £12M, 5-university Medical Device Manufacturing Centre www.mdmc.ac.uk. In addition to his research interests Duncan is currently Assistant Vice Principal for Research and Impact.

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Richard graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2005 with an MPhys, from the Universities of St-Andrews and Heriot-Watt with an MSc in photonics and opto-electronic devices in 2007 and in 2012 from Heriot-Watt with a PhD developing long period fibre gratings for environmental gas sensing. He joined the high power laser applications group at Heriot-Watt as a research associate investigating laser based production processes. In 2018 was appointed a Research Fellow (Lecturer) within the Institute for Photonics and Quantum Sciences at Heriot-Watt University and in 2021 promoted to his current role as Associate Professor with teaching responsibilities in both Physics and Mechanical Engineering. His research interests include the optical beam propagation and laser material interactions.

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Bill is an Associate Professor whose research interests are centred around the application of optical and fibre-optic techniques for measurement and instrumentation. This work includes high bandwidth temperature and pressure sensors for aerodynamic and explosion monitoring, novel fibres for structural monitoring, vibration and acceleration measurement, and studies into potential sensing applications of novel micro structured fibres.

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Currently Professor in the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences Prof. Shephard’s research (Applied Optics and Photonics) is targeted at number of areas: Medical laser applications (e.g. cancer surgery, eye surgery, orthopaedic surgery, dentistry); Integration of high-power lasers and optical fibre technology into advanced manufacturing processes (including robotic systems) and; Novel hollow core optical fibres. He focuses on developing multidisciplinary projects with academic and industrial partners and medical end users such as surgeons.

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