I am a Professor of Space Physics in the Department of Physics (Blackett Laboratory) at Imperial College London, working at the interface of fundamental space plasma physics, space weather, and space instrumentation. My research focuses on magnetic reconnection and turbulence in space plasmas, the development of global magnetospheric models for real-time operational space‑weather forecasting, and the design and flight of magnetometer instruments primarily for space weather monitoring. A central theme of my work is contributing to the safe, secure and sustainable use of space as our reliance on space‑based infrastructure grows, and I am interested in the development of evidence-based policy in this area.

At Imperial I'm a Convening Co‑Director of the School of Convergence Science, in the theme of Space, Security and Telecoms, which brings together science, engineering, data and policy to address cross‑cutting challenges such as space safety, resilience and the protection of critical infrastructure. My research on space weather, risk and instrumentation is closely aligned with this mission, linking fundamental plasma physics to practical tools and evidence for decision‑makers. I also lead Space Lab, Imperial’s network of excellence that connects space science, engineering, policy and innovation across the College, and co‑lead the Centre for Active Resilience and Security (CARS). Beyond Imperial, I serve as a core member of the UK Space Environment Impacts Expert Group (SEIEG), I have chaired the STFC Solar System Advisory Panel, and have advised the US National Academies of Sciences Space Studies Board on protecting the electric grid from space weather. I play leading roles in international space missions, including Imperial’s magnetometer contributions to ESA’s Vigil Space Safety mission, ESA’s European Radiation Sensors Array (ERSA) for the Lunar Gateway, and a programme of miniaturised magnetometers (MAGIC) on deep‑space and magnetospheric CubeSats.

I have previously worked at the University of California, Berkeley and at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where I held a National Research Council Resident Research Associateship. From 2010–2014 I held an STFC Advanced Fellowship at Imperial, and in 2012 I was awarded the COSPAR Zeldovich Medal (Commission D). My publications include papers in Science, Nature, Nature Communications, Space Science Reviews and Physical Review Letters, with sustained, widely cited contributions to the physics of collisionless magnetic reconnection and space weather.