Jessica Boland

Dr. Jessica Boland is a Senior Lecturer in Functional Materials and Devices at the Department of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester. She leads the Photonic Materials and Devices Group at the Photon Science Institute and serves as Research Area Theme Lead for Atoms to Devices at the Henry Royce Institute. Her research combines ultrafast terahertz spectroscopy with nanoscale microscopy to study carrier dynamics in nanomaterials.

Education:

• MPhys with Professional Experience, University of Exeter (2009-2013)
• DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics, University of Oxford (2013-2017)

Her research focuses on terahertz spectroscopy, nanomaterial characterization, and ultrafast carrier dynamics in III-V nanowires, 2D materials, and topological insulators. She develops novel techniques for optoelectronic property extraction and device applications, including terahertz detectors and modulators.

Her publications emphasize nanoscale material behavior, quantum phenomena, and advanced microscopy, with recurring themes in topological materials and terahertz photonics.

Awards and honors:

• Institute of Physics Jocelyn Bell Burnell Medal (2017)
• Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (2017-2018)
• Philip Leverhulme Prize (2019)
• IRMMW-THz Zhenyi Wang Award (2022)

She directs the CUSTOM national facility for cryogenic near-field microscopy and advises PhD students. Her group explores terahertz-driven applications in quantum technology and renewable energy.