Timothy Softley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Timothy Softley
FRS FRSC FInstP
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Softley in 2018
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| Education | The Hewett School |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford University of Southampton |
| Awards | Corday Morgan Medal (1994) Royal Society University Research Fellowship Harkness Fellowship |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemical physics |
| Institutions | University of Birmingham University of Oxford Stanford University University of Cambridge |
| Thesis | Infrared predissociation spectroscopy of diatomic atoms (1984) |
| Doctoral advisor | Alan Carrington |
| Doctoral students |
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Timothy Peter Softley is a British scientist. He is a top leader in science at the University of Birmingham. He helps guide new research and share discoveries.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Timothy Softley went to The Hewett School in Norwich. He then studied at Wadham College, Oxford, which is part of the University of Oxford.
He earned his PhD (a high-level science degree) at the University of Southampton in 1984. His supervisor was Alan Carrington. From 1986 to 1987, Softley worked as a researcher at Stanford University in the group of Richard Zare.
Career and Scientific Discoveries
Softley is known for his important work in two main areas of chemical physics. This field combines chemistry and physics to study how atoms and molecules behave.
Studying Excited Atoms
First, he studies atoms and molecules in very excited states. These are called Rydberg states. He uses special tools like lasers to understand their properties. This knowledge helps him develop new ways to study how chemicals react on surfaces.
Exploring Cold Atoms
Second, he has created new ways to make atoms, molecules, and ions super cold. These are called ultracold atoms. He uses these very cold conditions to study chemical reactions. At temperatures close to absolute zero, tiny quantum effects become very important in how chemicals react.
Much of his work happened over 25 years at Merton College, Oxford. He was also the head of the Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford from 2011 to 2015. One of his former students is Helen H. Fielding.
Awards and Honors
Softley has received many important awards for his scientific work.
- In 2018, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a great honor given to scientists who have made big contributions to knowledge.
- He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP).
- He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC).
- He received a Royal Society University Research Fellow (URF) award while at the University of Cambridge.
- He held a Harkness Fellowship at Stanford University.
- In 1994, he was awarded the Corday Morgan Medal.
