Kelly Morrison

Professor Kelly Morrison is a Professor of Experimental Physics and Head of the Physics Department at Loughborough University. She is also an EPSRC Fellow with extensive expertise in magnetothermal measurements and energy harvesting technologies. Her research primarily focuses on the spin Seebeck effect in thin films and functional magnetic materials for sustainable energy applications.

Professor Morrison completed her MSc and PhD at Imperial College London, where she earned her doctorate in 2010 with a thesis on 'Study of first order magnetocaloric materials,' for which she received the Anne Thorne Thesis Prize. She joined Loughborough University in 2013 and was awarded an EPSRC Early Career Fellowship in 2017 to support her research in spin Seebeck based thermoelectrics.

Her research interests span multiple areas of condensed matter physics, with particular emphasis on spin caloritronics, magnetothermal phenomena, and energy conversion technologies. She has developed measurement systems for determining spin Seebeck effect magnitudes in thin films and has investigated methods to improve the efficiency of potential spin Seebeck devices. Her work aims to break the Wiedemann-Franz law limitations of conventional thermoelectric devices, potentially revolutionizing waste heat energy harvesting.

Professor Morrison's publications reveal a consistent focus on advancing spin Seebeck effect applications, with recent work examining magnon diffusion lengths, heat flux normalization, and alternative materials for spin current generation. Her research demonstrates a clear trajectory toward practical applications of spin caloritronics in energy harvesting devices for power plants, road vehicles, and spintronic computing applications.

• Anne Thorne Thesis Prize for 'development and use of new experimental instrumentation or techniques'
• EPSRC Early Career Fellowship (2017-2022)
• EPSRC New Horizons Grant for 'Seeing magnons at spin-to-charge conversion interfaces' (2021-2022)
• EPSRC Strategic Equipment Grant for 'Rapid Prototyping of Novel Devices' (2021-2024)
• EPSRC First Grant for 'Feasibility of heat conversion to electricity' (2014-2016)

As Department Outreach Coordinator, Professor Morrison actively promotes STEM education through initiatives like 'Life through a Lens,' which includes science festivals, school visits, and community outreach. She has built a research team of PhD and post-doctoral researchers focused on developing new materials and measurement techniques. Her work with the Centre for the Science of Materials and Quantum Systems Engineering groups demonstrates interdisciplinary collaboration across multiple research domains. She has also authored the IOP ebook 'Characterisation Methods in Solid State and Materials Science' to support student learning in her field.