Laura Heyderman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laura Heyderman
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Laura Jane Heyderman
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| Institutions | ETH Zurich |
Laura Jane Heyderman is a brilliant scientist who studies physics and materials. She is a professor at ETH Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. Her main work involves understanding magnetism and how different materials behave magnetically. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very important science group.
Early Life and Learning
Laura Heyderman studied at the University of Bristol in the UK. She earned her first degree in chemical physics in 1988. Then, she completed her PhD in physics in 1991. Her journey into studying magnetism began during her PhD. She worked on special "magnetic multi-layers" at the French National Centre for Scientific Research.
Her Work and Discoveries
After getting her PhD, Laura Heyderman became a researcher. She used a special tool called a transmission electron microscopy to look at magnetic materials. She studied how tiny magnetic areas, called "domains," were arranged. This work was done at the University of Glasgow.
Later, she worked in industry for four years in the United Kingdom. In 1999, she became a group leader at the Paul Scherrer Institute. In 2013, she became a professor at ETH Zurich. She also became the Head of the Laboratory for Multiscale Materials Experiments in 2017. She has written over 150 scientific papers.
Professor Heyderman is an expert in "mesoscopic systems." These are tiny systems, bigger than atoms but smaller than everyday objects. She also studies "magnetic nanostructures." These are super tiny magnets, often used in new technologies. She uses methods like nanoimprint and electron beam lithography to create these tiny structures.
Her research on "artificial spin ices" is very interesting. These are patterns of tiny magnets that interact with each other. Her current work also includes looking at 3D magnetic structures. She uses powerful X-rays to see inside materials. She is also exploring how tiny magnets can be used to create smart micro/nano robots.
Awards and Recognition
Laura Heyderman is a respected member of the science community. She belongs to the German Physical Society. She is also a fellow of the American Physical Society, the IEEE, and the UK Institute of Physics. In 2023, she was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is one of the highest honors for scientists in the UK.
- 2016: She gave the Beller Lectureship at a big science meeting in Baltimore, US.
- 2015: She received the Wohlfarth Prize Lecture at a magnetism meeting in the UK.
