Peter Swift

Dr. Peter Swift serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Durham University, concurrently holding the position of Vice-Principal (formerly Vice-Master) of Grey College since January 2014, including a tenure as Acting Master from July 2021 to May 2023. Within the Colleges Division, he chairs the Welcome and Orientation Week group and leads Wider Student Experience initiatives at Grey College.

Swift earned first-class honors in Maths and Physics from Durham University, completing his PhD in 2008 under Prof. Martyn Chamberlain with HMGCC sponsorship in terahertz research. His early career included roles at Durham Photonics Ltd developing terahertz instrumentation and as a Post-Doc on the ROBUST project investigating terahertz sensing for organic molecules.

Current research centers on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) in Physics, examining student learning processes and pedagogical improvements, particularly regarding pandemic impacts on practical science skills. Earlier work focused on terahertz spectroscopy, microfluidic device development, and photonic crystal applications for terahertz radiation manipulation.

Recent publications (2021-2024) analyze student self-efficacy in practical physics during the pandemic and uncertainty comprehension in laboratories, while pre-2012 works established foundational contributions to terahertz technology through microfluidic cells and spectral filtering mechanisms.

Accolades include:

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
• 2023 Institute of Physics Degree Accreditation Panel membership
• 2023 Local Co-chair and National Steering Committee membership for the Variety in Chemistry Education and Physics Higher Education Conference

As departmental Education Track Representative and Outreach coordinator, Swift supervises undergraduate projects in Physics pedagogy, leads the PHYS1101 Laboratory Module, and coordinates Widening Participation initiatives including Sutton Trust Summer Schools. He chairs the department's Laboratory Committee and represents Physics on the Science Faculty Engagement Committee.

His leadership extends to the ROBUST project (Regeneration Of Brownfield Using Sustainable Technology) and the Physics Department Welcome Week Group Activity, fostering student development through structured orientation programs and alumni relations initiatives within Grey College.