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Midlands Innovation Electron Microscopy (MI EM) Network Conference 2026

Tue, 05 May 2026 10:35:00 GMT

On 21st April 2026 the Electron Microscopy Research Technology Platform (EM-RTP) hosted the third Midlands Innovation Electron Microscopy (MIEM) Conference, on behalf of the Midlands Innovation Electron Microscopy Network. The conference brought together technical specialists, researchers, and industrial partners from across the MI region, with more than 90 attendees.

The programme featured talks on regional capabilities updates, RTP development, national facility engagement, complementary opportunities, plus a series of technobyte presentations from leading EM manufacturers. The sponsors exhibition showcased the latest developments in microscopy instrumentation, peripherals, and consumables, with 15 exhibitors filling the large exhibition space.

The event provided the opportunity to advertise our world-class facilities, including the Electron Microscopy RTP, the Advanced Bioimaging RTP, the WMG Electron Microscopy facility, and Electron Diffraction (ED) capabilities within the X-ray Diffraction RTP.

Special thanks go to Matt Piggot (Nottingham), Emma Hesketh (Leicester) and Peng Wang (Warwick) for allowing Warwick to host the event and creating such a fantastic agenda. Steve Hindmarsh acted as the local host, organising the conference logistics and sponsors exhibition.

The organisers thank Amarjit Gill for her invaluable help and support.

Dr Miguel Afonso Oliveira - Winner of the 2026 Research Enabler Award at the Warwick Research Celebration Event

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:40:00 GMT

Congratulations to Dr Miguel Oliveira, who has won the Research Enabler award at the recent Research Celebration Awards at the ��ӰƬ.

Miguel manages the Scientific Computing Research Technology Platform (RTP) at the ��ӰƬ, where he ensures the facility operates with consistency, reliability, and precision. His focus is on maintaining a robust computational environment that researchers can depend on without interruption, allowing complex projects to progress smoothly.

He is recognised for his meticulous and highly responsive approach to managing the platform, ensuring that systems run efficiently and that users are well supported. Whether troubleshooting issues, maintaining infrastructure, or guiding users through technical challenges, he plays a key role in removing obstacles and keeping research on track.

Through his leadership, the Scientific Computing RTP provides a stable and dependable foundation for research activity across the University, supporting a wide community of users and enabling high-quality research outputs.

Dr Jack Woolley - Winner of the 2025 Technical Excellence Prize

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:55:32 GMT

Dr Jack Woolley has been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry's (RSC) 2025 Technical Excellence Award for providing outstanding technical and scientific support to users of the Warwick Centre for Ultrafast Spectroscopy (WCUS).

Jack has been the platform manager since the foundation of the WCUS Research Technology Platform (RTP) in 2021, and his role includes everything from managing finances, purchasing, and health and safety, to training users and designing experiments. He works with a wide range of researchers from master’s students to postdocs and PIs, both at Warwick and from other institutions. He also helps users run experiments, analyse data, and often teach them how to operate the equipment themselves.

Apart from the day to day practical aspects of his job, Jack also invests time in promoting the research capabilities of the facility to academics and supervisors here at Warwick as well as in public outreach engagement activities. He demonstrates the use of his laser at events including the live lab Christmas lectures, Resonate Festivals at Warwick and a local art gallery.

On hearing about the award, Jack said 'There are so many brilliant technicians here at Warwick and across the UK, so to be recognised like this is a real honour'.

WCUS at the Resonate Festival of Science and Technology – Day Out!

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 13:24:00 GMT

On Saturday the 9^th of March the WCUS RTP attended the Resonate Festival of Science and Technology, where they presented the effects of lasers and light. Visitors got to see the effects of interference through the WCUS Michelson Interferometer (funding for which was provided by a technician demonstrator award in 2023). They also demonstrated their fluorescent kitchen, explaining how molecules and materials deal with the energy they absorb. Throughout the day over 500 visitors of all ages got to learn how they control light in their laboratory and use lasers to measure materials.

Warwick Research Celebration 2025

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:03:00 GMT

Winner:
Godwin Yeboah, Senior Research Software Engineer - RTP

Godwin played a pivotal role in creating a ground-breaking database of Parisian play performances leading up to Napoleon's empire. Despite challenges, such as a complex dataset in French and differing historical date systems, his problem-solving expertise and leadership ensured the delivery of a transformative research tool.

The database will help revolutionise the study of early 19th-century theatre.

The ��ӰƬ: Meet the Researcher

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:53:00 GMT

Dr Saskia Bakker Advanced Bioimaging RTP facility manager was featured in the University's Meet the researchers page.

You can read the full story here.

Dr Ben Breeze winner of the Research Enabler Award at the Warwick Research Celebration Event

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 13:28:00 GMT

Dr Ben Breeze is Manager of the Spectroscopy Research Technology Platform (RTP) and supports spectroscopic materials characterisation. He is also responsible for all training in the facility and offers support in experiment design and analysis.

He was nominated for his generous and enthusiastic approach to enabling the research completed at the Spectroscopy RTP, including contributing to the design of bespoke experiments, and supporting researcher development from undergraduate through to postgraduate level.

His award recognises the impact of his work with the facility, which supports the research of over 100 PhD students in addition to postdoctoral researchers and undergraduate students from across 6 Departments, and has been acknowledged in over 100 papers in the past three years.

Dr Dan Lester shortlisted for the Papin Prize

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 12:13:00 GMT

Dr. Daniel Lester, manager of the Polymer Characterisation RTP, has been shortlisted for a Papin Prize, the national awards recognising excellence in academia. He is one of 6 nominees in the brand-new category of Contribution to Knowledge Exchange, the category aiming to honour a member of technical staff who has made a significant contribution to delivering knowledge exchange and innovation activities on behalf of their institution.

Warwick Scientific Services Manager role now live!

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 13:47:33 GMT

The role for Warwick Scientific Services (WSS) Manager is now live. This role will help oversee WSS and grow an important function in how Warwick works with industry. It will deliver the marketing strategies for WSS and build rapport across multiple academic departments. The postholder will act as an ambassador of Warwick at externally facing events and will be a key member of staff within the Research Technology Platforms.

To find out more, see details on the webpage below:

��ӰƬ Job Search: Warwick Scientific Services Manager (107201-0323) (wcn.co.uk)

World-class centre for single crystal electron diffraction will be UK first

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 17:45:00 GMT

A new centre based jointly at the University of Southampton and the ��ӰƬ will draw on expertise from two world class universities and become a game changer for chemical industries, including manufacturing, pharma and electronics. Full article can be found here: World-class centre for single crystal electron diffraction will be UK first - Press Releases (warwick.ac.uk)