Dr Rick Binns

Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor

Department: Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering

I am Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education in the Faculty of Science and Environment and Associate Professor at Northumbria University. I lead the educational programmes across four schools, ensuring alignment with university strategy, professional body standards, and the needs of students and industry. This includes oversight of approximately 44 undergraduate programmes, 20 postgraduate programmes, degree apprenticeships, and distance learning provision. I also leads the management of around 20 professional body accreditations, primarily within the UK, with some international reach.

My academic career began with a degree in Electronic and Information Engineering at Huddersfield (1993), followed by a PhD in Analogue Test Strategies (1997). I joined Northumbria in 2001 on an EPSRC postdoctoral contract, working with Ericsson Components and Cadence Design Systems on analogue synthesis tools. Since then, my research has spanned satellite electronics and communications, visible light communication systems, battery charging and energy management, power control systems, and radiation detection for personal dosimetry.

My current research, funded by the UK Space Agency, is part of the ALIGN project (Autonomous Laser Inter-satellite Gigabit Network). I focus on the design of analogue signal paths for laser communication drive and detection systems—work that sits at the forefront of the UK’s ambitions in secure, high-capacity space communications. Across my career, I have remained dedicated to analogue design, applying it to diverse domains and supervising numerous successful PhDs. A key priority for me is involving students directly in research projects, providing both technical training and inspiration for their careers.

Teaching remains central to my role. I specialise in analogue electronics, demystifying the so-called “black art” of circuit design by combining mathematical rigour, simulation, and laboratory demonstration. I teach across undergraduate and postgraduate levels, drawing on live research examples—including the ALIGN project—to connect theory with practice. My philosophy is grounded in Universal Design for Learning and Bloom’s taxonomy, ensuring inclusivity, authenticity, and progression in learning. I particularly value project-based assessments and research-led teaching as ways to build confidence and professional skills.

Looking ahead, I plan to deepen my research in satellite communications and explore sustainable applications of analogue design in energy and transport. In education, my focus is on strengthening experiential learning, aligning programmes with industry, and enhancing student outcomes. I believe in linking research, teaching, and external partnerships to ensure both societal impact and an inspiring learning experience for our students.

Campus Address

Ellison Building

Email Rick

Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

My key research work is in analogue electronics specifically the design and development of novel electronic circuit designs, this is often coupled into different areas of research in visible light communication and power electronics. Design and implementation of electronics for visible light communication driver design, and in the analysis of LiPo battery charging design has led to several successful PhD students awards.

One key aspect of my research is engaging students both undergrad and postgraduate in research, with several students starting on a research journey from their respective project work.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
A slot shape microstructured optical fiber for high sensitivity pressure sensing, Xue, P., Fu, Y., Wu, Q., Ng, W., Binns, R., Liu, Q. 15 Mar 2025, In: Journal of Lightwave Technology
The fabrication of “8”-shape microstructured optical fiber and its application in pressure/temperature sensing, Xue, P., Fu, Y., Wu, Q., Ng, W., Binns, R., Liu, Q. 15 Jul 2025, In: Journal of Lightwave Technology
Acoustofluidic Patterning in Glass Capillaries Using Travelling Acoustic waves based on Thin Film Flexible Platform, Wang, Q., Maramizonouz, S., Stringer Martin, M., Zhang, J., Ong, H., Liu, Q., Yang, X., Rahmati, M., Torun, H., Ng, W., Wu, Q., Binns, R., Fu, Y. 1 Jan 2024, In: Ultrasonics
Design and control of a steering mirror for a freespace optical communications CubeSat for gigabit inter-satellite links, Graham, C., Bramall, D., Younus, O., Riaz, A., Binns, R., Scullion, E., Wicks, R., Bourgenot, C. 3 Oct 2024, CubeSats, SmallSats, and Hosted Payloads for Remote Sensing VIII, San Diego, SPIE
High-Sensitivity Narrow-band T-Shaped Cantilever Fabry-Perot Acoustic Sensor for Photoacoustic Spectroscopy, Wang, J., Wang, Q., Yan, C., Xu, S., Zou, X., Wu, Q., Ng, W., Binns, R., Fu, Y. 1 Aug 2024, In: Photoacoustics
LiDrive: A LiFi Solution Compliant with ITU-T G. hn Standards for Commercial Deployment, Li, X., Le-Minh, H., Ghassemlooy, Z., Binns, R., Eromosele, A., Archenhold, G. 19 Jul 2024, 2024 14th International Symposium on Communication Systems, Networks and Digital Signal Processing (CSNDSP), IEEE
Microstructured optical fiber sensor with three-core Mach-Zehnder interferometer, Xue, P., Wu, Q., Fu, Y., Ng, W., Binns, R., Liu, Q. 15 May 2024, In: IEEE Photonics Technology Letters
Overview of Space-Based Laser Communication Missions and Payloads: Insights from the Autonomous Laser Inter-Satellite Gigabit Network (ALIGN), Younus, O., Riaz, A., Binns, R., Scullion, E., Wicks, R., Vernon, J., Graham, C., Bramall, D., Schmoll, J., Bourgenot, C. 5 Nov 2024, In: Aerospace
Steering Mirror System with Closed-Loop Feedback for Free-Space Optical Communication Terminals, Graham, C., Bramall, D., Younus, O., Riaz, A., Binns, R., Scullion, E., Wicks, R., Bourgenot, C. 23 Apr 2024, In: Aerospace
Ultra-sensitive fiber optic temperature sensor based on Vernier effect in cascading Sagnac loops integrated with PMFs, Zhang, Y., Liu, Q., Xu, T., Wu, Q., Fu, Y., Ng, W., Binns, R. 1 Sep 2024, In: Optics Communications

Current and Recent Projects

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
ROARS - CubeSats Revealing Orbital and Atmospheric Responses to Solar Activity, Scullion, E. (Principal Investigator), Binns, R. (Co Investigator), European Space Agency, 02/10/23 - 01/04/24, £8,197.00
Laser Communication and Cubesat - Phase 3, Scullion, E. (Principal Investigator), Binns, R. (Co Investigator), UK Space Agency, 01/12/22 - 31/03/25, £4,687,593.00
Laser Communications in CuebSats, Scullion, E. (Principal Investigator), Binns, R. (Co Investigator), UK Space Agency, 01/10/21 - 31/03/22, £647,283.00
Northumbria University-Integrated System Technologies, Le Minh, H. (Principal Investigator), Binns, R. (Co Investigator), Innovate UK, 01/08/21 - 31/01/24, £235,679.00

PGR Supervision

Jonathan James-Gunn Challenges in the Replacement of Current Gamma Ray Detectors with Readily Available Solid State for the use of Personal Dosimetry Start Date: 06/06/2016 End Date: 17/10/2025
Jonathan James-Gunn Challenges in the Replacement of Current Gamma Ray Detectors with Readily Available Solid State for the use of Personal Dosimetry Start Date: 06/06/2016 End Date: 20/12/2025

Further Information

Research Supervisions
Graduate Name	*Jonathan James Gunn*
Supervision Role	Director of Studies
Thesis Title	“New Electronic Techniques for Personal Dosimetry” Industrial collaboration with NDT Electronic Services Ltd company in South Shields
	Aim of the research is to investigate possible replacements for the personal dosimeter (radiation detection using a film badge). New and novel mechanisms for high energy photon detection (ionising radiation) are to be investigated based originally on the Geiger-Muller tube as a baseline experiment. Initial work has looked into the PIN diode, an APD and established a baseline from existing technology. New technologies the GFET are to be investigated along with possible memory structures.

Graduate Name	*Jethro Vernon – Graduate 2022*
Thesis Title	“Thin Film Acoustic Wave Platform for Conformable and Mechanically Flexible Biosensors”

Graduate Name	*Mariam Abdelmoteleb – Graduate 2020*
Thesis Title	“Low level data rate Visible Light Communications”

Graduate Name	*Peter Harrington – Graduate 2020*
Thesis Title	“Autonomous Drone Network: Non-Intrusive Control and Indoor Formation Positioning”

Graduate Name	Geetika Agagrwal - Graduated 2020
Thesis Title	“Visible Light Communication for Medical Data Transfer”

Graduate Name	Ahmed Al-Karakchi - Graduated 2018
Thesis Title	“Smart Control of Power Electronic Chargers for Integrating Electric Vehicles into the Power Grid”

Qualifications

Electrical Engineering PhD June 30 1996
Fellow (FHEA) Higher Education Academy (HEA) 2003
Member (MIET) & Chartered Engineer (CEng) Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) 1989