معرفی
Andrew Cairns is a Lecturer in Materials Chemistry at Imperial College London's Department of Materials, part of the Faculty of Engineering. He holds leadership roles as Director of Undergraduate Studies at Imperial and Director of St Dunstan's Education Group. He completed his DPhil in Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Oxford (2011–2015) and served as a postdoctoral scientist at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in France before joining Imperial in 2017 as a Research Fellow.
His research focuses on understanding flexible framework materials, particularly their atomic structures and properties under extreme conditions like high pressure. Utilizing synchrotron X-ray and neutron facilities, his work explores topics such as negative thermal expansion, radiation effects on catalysts, and phase transitions in molecular frameworks. Key areas include Prussian blue analogues, cyanide frameworks, and van der Waals materials.
Cairns is committed to academic equity, serving on multiple Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion committees within Imperial and the London Centre for Nanotechnology. He received the 2020 Department of Materials Community Champion Award for his contributions to fostering an inclusive environment. As a Mental Health First Aider, he supports staff and students facing challenges.
- Education: DPhil (Inorganic Chemistry, Oxford 2015), MChem (Oxford 2011)
- Research Groups: Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Characterisation of Materials, BCA/CCG Intensive Teaching School
- Professional Certifications: Postgraduate Certificate in University Learning and Teaching (Imperial College London, 2024–present)
His lab's recent work highlights include studies on colossal negative area compressibility in ferroelastic frameworks and radiation mitigation strategies for catalysts. Collaborations with international facilities like the ESRF underscore his experimental approach to materials design.
