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 who is a top leader at the University of Birmingham. He helps guide the university's research and makes sure new discoveries are shared with the world.
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Education and Early Career
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 university degree) at the University of Southampton in 1984. After that, from 1986 to 1987, he worked as a researcher at Stanford University in the United States.
Amazing Discoveries in Chemical Physics
Professor Softley is famous for his important work in Chemical physics. This field combines chemistry and physics to understand how atoms and molecules behave. He has made big steps forward in two main areas:
Studying Super-Excited Atoms
One area of his research looks at atoms and molecules that are in very high-energy states. These are called Rydberg states. Think of them like super-charged particles!
He uses special tools like lasers to study these particles. This helps him understand their properties. He has even used this knowledge to study how charges move between solids and gases.
Chemistry at Super Cold Temperatures
Professor Softley has also created amazing experiments to study chemical reactions at extremely low temperatures. These temperatures are almost at absolute zero, which is the coldest possible temperature.
At these super cold temperatures, tiny quantum effects become very important. They change how chemicals react. His work helps us understand these unique reactions.
Much of his research 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.
Awards and Honours
Professor Softley has received many important awards for his scientific work.
- In 2018, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honour for scientists in the United Kingdom.
- 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.
- He was given a Harkness Fellowship to study at Stanford University.
- In 1994, he was awarded the Corday Morgan Medal.
