Prize-winning physicist honoured by Northumbria University

Respected physicist Professor Julia Yeomans has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science by Northumbria University, Newcastle.

Professor Yeomans is a theoretical physicist, researching how mathematics can be used to understand topics as diverse as waterproofing, how bacteria move, and biological machines.

Professor Yeomans began her academic career at the University of Oxford graduating with a first class degree in Physics. She was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford in 1979, before moving to the USA as a Research Associate at Cornell University.

She returned to the UK in 1981, taking up a post at Southampton University before moving to an appointment as the Pauline Chan Fellow and Tutor in Physics at St Hilda’s College, Oxford in 1983. In 2002 she was appointed Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford.

Professor Yeomans is a Fellow of the Royal Society, and currently a member of their Council. She has received numerous accolades including the EPJE Pierre Gilles De Gennes Lecture Prize in 2013. Her service in the field of physics has been extensive from chairing Royal Society committees to major international research funding panels. Her latest appointments include the editorial boards of the Journal of Physics A, Molecular Physics and the Oxford Encyclopaedia.

Upon receiving her honorary degree, Professor Yeomans said: “It’s a wonderful honour to be awarded such an accolade from Northumbria University. I’m delighted to be associated with the students and alumni here at the University and I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the new Northumbria graduates.”

As well as being an official role model for Women in Engineering, Professor Yeomans serves on the advisory panel of the Institute of Physics’ Women in Physics Group. Here in the North East, she has completed four years as Chair of Northumbria’s own Think Physics/NUSTEM Advisory Board.