Ernest Rutherford Fellows to Lead New UK Research in Particle Physics, Astronomy and Cosmology

Ernest Rutherford Fellows to Lead New UK Research in Particle Physics, Astronomy and Cosmology

(IN BRIEF) The Science and Technology Facilities Council has announced the 2025 Ernest Rutherford Fellowship cohort, awarding £6 million to seven early-career physicists who will each lead independent research programmes at UK universities in areas including particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics. The fellows are Dr Aleksandra Sokolowska of the University of Glasgow, whose SPACEFORCE project will study planetary airbursts, impacts and planetary defence; Dr Benedikt Maier of Imperial College London, who will use AI-driven real-time data selection to improve dark matter searches with the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider; Dr Brendan Kettle of Imperial College London, who will develop ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy using laser-plasma accelerators; Dr Hamish Hay of the University of St Andrews, who will model hidden oceans and magnetic fields in planets and moons; Dr Jamie McDonald of the University of Manchester, who will investigate high-frequency gravitational waves and related detection technologies; Dr Lucien Heurtier of King’s College London, who will explore precision cosmology and the early Universe; and Dr Robie Hennigar of Durham University, who will examine black holes, spacetime and quantum gravity. Now in its 16th year, the Ernest Rutherford Fellowship programme has supported more than 100 early-career researchers, helping them build independent research careers and contributing to the UK’s strength in fundamental physics.

(PRESS RELEASE) SWINDON, 12-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The Science and Technology Facilities Council has announced the latest recipients of its Ernest Rutherford Fellowships, awarding support to seven early-career physicists whose research spans some of the most important questions in modern physics.

Backed by a total investment of £6 million, the 2025 Ernest Rutherford Fellowship cohort will each lead an independent research programme at a UK university during the course of their fellowship.

The programme supports early-career researchers working in areas including particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics, helping them establish independent research careers and build leadership in their fields.

This year’s fellows will pursue research covering planetary defence, dark matter searches at the Large Hadron Collider, next-generation X-ray technology, hidden oceans inside icy moons, high-frequency gravitational waves, the earliest moments of the Universe and the internal structure of black holes.

Now in its 16th consecutive year, the Ernest Rutherford Fellowship programme has supported more than 100 early-career researchers, several of whom have gone on to take permanent positions at UK research institutes.

Professor Grahame Blair, Executive Director of Programmes at STFC, said the proposals from this year’s applicants demonstrated the wide range of scientific questions being tackled by early-career researchers.

He said the 2025 cohort is addressing topics from the origins of the Universe to the physics of black holes, and added that a strong field of applicants made the selection process difficult.

Professor Blair congratulated the new Ernest Rutherford Fellows and said he looked forward to seeing the direction of their research.

Dr Aleksandra Sokolowska, University of Glasgow

Dr Aleksandra Sokolowska of the University of Glasgow will lead the SPACEFORCE project, which will study planetary airbursts, cratering, explosions and fluxes from objects capable of causing catastrophic events.

Earth’s atmosphere usually protects the planet by slowing and breaking up incoming asteroids and comets, but larger objects can still cause major damage through airbursts or surface impacts.

Historic events such as Tunguska in 1908, Chelyabinsk in 2013 and the ancient Chicxulub impact demonstrate the destructive potential of such events, which are now recognised as hazards requiring monitoring and mitigation.

A major challenge is the limited availability of reliable data.

Only two well-documented airbursts exist, and there are no direct measurements of thermal radiation from impacts.

Current models rely heavily on outdated nuclear test data, despite important differences in the underlying physics.

Dr Sokolowska’s research will study similar events on other planetary bodies, particularly Mars and the Moon, to improve understanding of airbursts, impact flashes and related thermal effects.

The project will analyse planetary datasets, improve modelling of airburst impacts and radiation, and develop computational tools to better simulate these processes.

It will also support international collaboration toward the design of a Mars mission dedicated to observing airbursts and impact events.

Expected outcomes include improved risk assessment, advances in planetary defence, support for future space missions, policy insight and public engagement through citizen science.

Dr Benedikt Maier, Imperial College London

Dr Benedikt Maier of Imperial College London will lead research focused on scouting for dark sectors with the CMS experiment.

Dark matter remains one of the biggest unresolved questions in physics, and the Large Hadron Collider is a key tool in the effort to detect it.

However, current search methods, including those used in CMS, may miss a range of possible signals.

The project aims to address these limitations by introducing AI-driven techniques into real-time data selection.

This could improve sensitivity to dark matter scenarios that have previously been difficult or impossible to detect.

By advancing data acquisition and analysis capabilities for the LHC and its future upgrades, the research aims to increase the chances of discovering dark matter and open new directions in particle physics.

Dr Brendan Kettle, Imperial College London

Dr Brendan Kettle of Imperial College London will develop next-generation ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy using laser-plasma accelerators.

The project focuses on advanced X-ray sources capable of producing extremely short and powerful X-ray pulses, around 1,000 times shorter than those used in conventional facilities.

These ultrafast pulses allow scientists to capture snapshots of processes occurring on the timescale of electron motion.

The technology could enable new studies of extreme conditions, including those found in planetary interiors, fusion reactions and advanced materials.

The research will improve the brightness, stability and spectral quality of these X-ray sources and demonstrate their capabilities through experiments in physics, materials science and industry.

By making high-end X-ray technology more accessible and affordable, the project could expand scientific research internationally and strengthen the UK’s leadership in the field.

Dr Hamish Hay, University of St Andrews

Dr Hamish Hay of the University of St Andrews will investigate tidal magnetohydrodynamics in water and metallic ocean worlds.

The project will focus on hidden oceans inside planets and moons, including water oceans and molten metal cores.

It will examine how flowing, electrically conductive fluids generate magnetic fields.

Although spacecraft can detect these magnetic signals, current theories do not fully explain how tidal forces and electromagnetic effects interact in such environments.

The research will develop the first self-consistent models linking tidal flows and magnetic fields.

These models will help scientists interpret upcoming spacecraft data from missions to Europa, Ganymede and Mercury.

The project will also produce open-source tools to infer internal ocean dynamics and explore how tides may drive planetary magnetic fields.

Its wider aim is to transform understanding of subsurface oceans and maximise the scientific return from major space missions.

Dr Jamie McDonald, University of Manchester

Dr Jamie McDonald of the University of Manchester will study the high-frequency gravitational wave universe, from laboratory systems to astrophysical sources.

Gravitational waves have opened a new way to study the Universe, but most research has so far focused on low-frequency signals.

This project will explore high-frequency gravitational waves, which could arise from exotic phenomena such as primordial black holes, cosmic strings or new fundamental physics.

The research will predict possible sources and strengths of high-frequency gravitational waves while also developing new technologies to detect them.

These include advanced microwave cavities that may also be used to search for axion dark matter.

By contributing to experiments such as the Manchester Axion Novel Cavity eXperiment and international collaborations, the project aims to establish high-frequency gravitational wave detection as a powerful new scientific tool.

Dr Lucien Heurtier, King’s College London

Dr Lucien Heurtier of King’s College London will lead a programme focused on revealing the hidden Universe through precision cosmology.

The Big Bang theory explains the expansion of the Universe, early radiation and the formation of elements, but major questions remain.

These include what caused the Universe’s rapid early expansion, what most of the Universe is made of and why matter dominates over antimatter.

With powerful new observatories coming online, the next few years are expected to produce unprecedented data to test these questions.

Dr Heurtier’s research will explore quantum effects in the early Universe, possible primordial black holes and new cosmic phases.

The programme will link fundamental physics to observations, help interpret new datasets and support the UK’s leadership in cosmology.

Dr Robie Hennigar, Durham University

Dr Robie Hennigar of Durham University will investigate spacetime through classical, semiclassical and quantum approaches.

Black holes strongly warp space and time, making them important testing grounds for Einstein’s theory of gravity.

They also raise deep questions about predictability, information and the limits of current physical theories.

The project will focus on how black holes form, evolve and behave internally, particularly in regions where existing theories break down, including singularities and inner horizons.

It will explore whether quantum effects can resolve these challenges and seek consistent models beyond classical physics.

The research comes at a time of rapid progress in high-precision gravitational observations and growing efforts to connect black holes with quantum gravity and cosmology.

By combining methods from dynamical gravity, quantum theory and holography, the project aims to improve fundamental understanding while supporting the interpretation of experimental data.

Through the 2025 Ernest Rutherford Fellowships, STFC is supporting a new generation of UK-based physicists whose work could advance understanding of the Universe, strengthen national research capability and contribute to future scientific and technological breakthroughs.

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SOURCE: UKRI