Timothy Softley

Tim Softley FRS FRSC FInstP
Born	Timothy P. Softley
Alma mater	University of Southampton (PhD)
Awards	Corday Morgan Medal (1994)
Scientific career
Institutions	University of Birmingham University of Oxford Stanford University University of Cambridge
Thesis	Infrared predissociation spectroscopy of diatomic atoms (1984)
Doctoral advisor	Alan Carrington
Website	research.birmingham.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/timothy-softley(67763980-12d3-457a-91af-252836d2661f).html

Timothy P. Softley FRS FRSC FInstP is Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Birmingham. Softley is distinguished for his advances in two areas of Chemical Physics. First, the study of atoms and molecules in highly excited quantum states, known as Rydberg states. He has used his understanding of their properties, gained from laser spectroscopy and theory, to develop new applications including the study of model charge-transfer processes at solid-gas interfaces. Second, he has pioneered unique experiments utilising combinations of novel physical devices for making cold atoms, molecules and ions, for studying the kinetics and dynamics of chemical processes at ultralow temperatures - close to the absolute zero of temperature - where quantum effects determine the reactivity.

Much of his work was conducted in a twenty five year period at Merton College, Oxford , where he served as head of the Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford from 2011 to 2015. Previously he was a Royal Society University Research Fellow (URF) at the University of Cambridge, a Harkness Fellow at Stanford University, and completed a PhD supervised by Alan Carrington at the University of Southampton.

References

 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.