Consultancy
Laser Labs
Setting up a new lab? Using lasers for research but not sure the best optical arrangement? Or do you need advice on the most suitable components for your work? With over 14 years of photonics experience in academia and industry, I understand the challenges of working with optics and would be delighted to help find the best solutions for your work. Please get in touch.
PhD Students
No matter how much you prepare, a PhD viva is stressful. There is no way of knowing what the examiners are going to ask or what parts of your thesis they will focus on. Many universities offer courses on viva preparation, but few include a mock viva as standard practice. A mock viva can help to prepare for the real thing and, having gone through one myself, I know how important viva preparation is. Some examiners will also expect you to give a short (5 - 20 minute) presentation of your thesis. This is a great way to help you settle into the viva and is also something I am happy to help with. If you would like a mock viva, or advice in preparing for your viva, please get in touch.
Testimonials
"I am thrilled to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr Brown for his guidance and support for our project on 'photothermal therapy with Copper Selenide nanoparticles for drug-resistant bacteria.' His expertise and dedication were instrumental in successfully setting up the laser 1064 nm system, a critical component of our research. Dr Brown helped us to figure out the optical setup and beam expansion so that it hits the sample effectively and precisely. His suggestions played a pivotal role in configuring setups for both cuvette and microplate experiments, demonstrating his versatility and commitment to our project's success. What truly sets Dr Brown apart is not only his technical proficiency but also his willingness to share his expertise generously. We are genuinely indebted to Dr Brown for his assistance and guidance. Thank you, Dr Brown, for your exceptional mentorship and for being an integral part of our success story." Dr S. Kashif
"Calum generously helped me to prepare for my PhD viva by giving useful feedback on the structure and content of my introductory presentation. He also read through my thesis, highlighting questions, suggesting improvements, and raising discussion points. All of these exercises ultimately resulted in my thesis being stronger and improving my confidence and approach to the viva on the day. I am very thankful for Calum’s generosity of time and quality of critique." Dr D. Dickinson
"My research is studying light-responsive nanomedicines for advanced cancer therapy applications. In this pursuit, Calum played a pivotal role in the development of an 808 nm laser irradiation system. Leveraging his expertise, he was instrumental in the selection of laser components and the assembly of the entire system. This laser setup not only facilitates the exploration of nanomedicine’s light behaviour but also enables cellular studies to be conducted." Dr X. Feng
"A few years ago, while I served as the Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at VividQ, I was introduced to Dr Calum Brown looking to explore high-quality holographic display employing liquid crystal lasers. Calum's deep knowledge of the inner workings of LC lasers was highly valuable to us. Unfortunately, the project was unable to progress due to funding issues.
Recently, remembering Calum's expertise, I contacted him on behalf of Swave Photonics, where I currently work. Calum was extremely helpful and his input guided our decisions."
Dr A. Kaczorowski