PeopleNPL's reputation relies on great people and exceptional scientists.
For over 100 years we have employed physicists, mathematicians, engineers, and more recently, chemists and biologists working on measurement science and the many wider areas that this leads to.
Executive Team
Short biographies of NPL's senior management team.
This includes Brian Bowsher, NPL's Managing Director.
NPL Fellows
Biographies of NPL's Senior Science Fellows, Fellows, Emeritus Senior Fellows and Senior Fellows.
NPL Directors
Since its creation in 1899, NPL has been led by a number of notable individuals. You can see biographies of all 20 directors.
People by science area
Composites & Polymeric Materials
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Some of our notable scientists
Michael de Podesta was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his outstanding commitment and passion for science communication. Michael was one of the first Science Ambassadors at NPL, going out to schools and the community to bring science to life. Michael is now a key Science Ambassador mentor, giving many NPL staff the confidence to go out to schools and colleges and promote science. Michael's work on the redefinition of the kelvin, through an improved determination of the Boltzmann constant using an acoustic thermometer, was recently featured in Nature.
Since joining in 1991, Ian Gilmore has helped turn NPL into a world leading surface and nanoanalysis research group. Ian was recently made a Fellow of the AVS, a large society and symposium in the US, in recognition of his international leadership in surface and nanoanalysis and pioneering research in the analysis of organic molecules at surfaces.
Laurie Winkless has won the Demonstrating Outstanding Commitment Pulse Award, recognising her longstanding commitment to science outreach and education. Beyond her support to NPL's outreach activities she has dedicated much of her spare time to science communication. She: recorded a radio programme with Radio 5 Live, became a national programme 'NOISEmaker' (a government programme encouraging 14-18 years olds to take up science), is a STEMNET Ambassador (another government scheme to inspire young people into science), tutors two GCSE students, e-mentors a number of university students, takes summer placement students, gives talks to girls' schools and recently led NPL's stand at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. Most recently she has been shortlisted for the WISE (Women In Science & Engineering) Excellence Award and has just won a place on the BBC 5 Live Naked Scientists Radio Programme Panel - so will be regularly broadcasting via their radio show and podcasts.
Kamal Hossain, Director, Research & International at NPL, was awarded an OBE for services to industry for his outstanding scientific leadership, increasing NPL's international reputation and his work on improving links between research, standards and innovation, particularly for new technologies.
Graham Machin, one of the world's top temperature measurement scientists, contributed to and co-edited a major two-volume work entitled 'Radiometric temperature measurement'. Graham has a great passion for his subject and for good measurement practice in general and was recently made a visiting professor at the University of Glamorgan in addition to his visiting professorship at the University of Valladolid, Spain.
Supporting our staff
We recognise that people are the most important part of any organisation and as such we try to support our staff in the best way possible.
NPL's Continuous Professional Development Scheme
NPL’s Continuous Professional Development Scheme has been recognised by the Institute of Physics (IOP) as a scheme that demonstrates best practice in the training of physicists
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
We maintain a high level of health and safety on site and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has consistently commended our health and safety record.
Volunteering
NPL actively supports staff who wish to volunteer for community work. Staff who engage in work such as School Governors, Scout Leadership and St John Ambulance can request up to five days time off for volunteering per year.
Two Ticks Disability
Jobcentre Plus has approved NPL to be a user of the Two Ticks Disability Symbol. This means that NPL is committed to employing disabled people and will look to continuously support and develop the careers of any disabled members of staff.