Andy Parker (physicist)

Michael Andrew Parker (born 1956) is a British physicist and is professor of high energy physics at the University of Cambridge.[1][2] He is the incumbent Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, having succeeded Bridget Kendall in 2023. Parker is involved with CERN's Large Hadron Collider project, and was previously the head of the department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, the Cavendish Laboratory.

Andy Parker
Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge
Assumed office
2023
Preceded byBridget Kendall
Personal details
NationalityBritish
EducationPembroke College, Oxford
University College London

Early life and education edit

Parker was born in Bristol and attended Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol.[3] He graduated in 1978 with a Class II degree in Physics from Pembroke College, Oxford.[4] He then obtained a PhD in particle physics from University College London.[5]

Career edit

Parker began working at CERN as a summer student, and was a permanent member of staff from 1982 until 1989. Parker was heavily involved in the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider, which was responsible for the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012. He has continued his association with CERN since, and has sat on numerous committees and advisory panels.

Parker began working at the University of Cambridge in 1989, becoming a fellow of Peterhouse. He was appointed Professor of Physics in 2004 and became head of the Cavendish Laboratory, the university's department of physics, in 2013.[6] He remained in this post until 2023, when he was succeeded by Mete Atatüre.

In addition to his work with CERN and with the Cavendish Laboratory, Parker has worked with the Addenbrooke's Hospital Department of Oncology on applying particle physics software solutions to radiotherapy.

In 2023, it was announced that Parker was to succeed Bridget Kendall as Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge. He was formally appointed Master in July 2023.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Professor Andy Parker, FInstP, CPhys — Department of Physics". Phy.cam.ac.uk. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Professor Andy Parker - Research Councils UK". Rcuk.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  3. ^ "The Times", 31 December 1974, page 14,
  4. ^ "The Times", 11 July 1978, page 16
  5. ^ "UCL Physics and Astronomy Annual Review 2017-18" (PDF). p. 24. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Andy Parker - HEP Group, Cavendish Laboratory". Hep.phy.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  7. ^ "News | Peterhouse".

External links edit