The former CEO of the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) has been named as an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics (IOP).
Professor Alan Miller was selected for the award in recognition of his outstanding research and support for early career researchers through his leadership of successful new initiatives.
He was nominated for the honour by Prof Sir James Hough of the School of Physics & Astronomy, who is also an IOP Honorary Fellow.
He was chief executive officer of SUPA for eight years from April 2015. The University of Glasgow has an administrative responsibility for SUPA, a strategic alliance of eight Scottish universities with a shared strategy for physics research.
He gained his BSc in physics from the University of Edinburgh and his PhD from the University of Bath exploring new semiconductors.
He then embarked on a research career in quantum materials, lasers, nonlinear optics and ultrafast phenomena at universities in the UK and USA, with a period as SPSO-Individual Merit at the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment, Malvern.
His expertise includes research policy and strategic planning, with a personal interest in leadership development for early career researchers.
Prof Miller is currently an Emeritus Professor at Heriot-Watt University, where he was formerly Deputy Principal. He is currently an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow’s School of Physics & Astronomy.
Prof Miller said: “It is a special honour to receive this esteemed award from the Institute of Physics and to join a list of such highly respected physicists. My joy has been, across my career, to make many friendships with truly outstanding colleagues across the world and have the chance to help progress the careers of high potential early career researchers.”
The IOP is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. It works with a range of partners to support and develop the teaching of physics in schools as well as encourage innovation, growth, and productivity in business.
