Prof Jonathan Taylor he/him

I am excited about the challenge of developing new optical imaging technologies to open up whole new methods for doing research. Many researchers in biomedicine are content with answering their research questions using well-established tools that already exist, and many people do great science that way, but the people I love collaborating with the most are those who have the vision to see what questions could be answered if only a particular new imaging technology existed that would allow them insight into X. I want to build those technologies.

Most people in my group end up doing some sort of a balance of experimental and computational research, but there is scope for everything along that continuum. At the moment, questions and challenges I am excited about include:
– Can we go beyond structural microscopy imaging and develop techniques to image things like the forces between cells and the flow in the blood, to understand how whole organs function?
– How can we image inside a living animal with the same crisp resolution as we could with cells on a microscope slide (and what biology would that be a game-changer for)?
– How can we best make our cutting-edge bio-imaging technologies accessible to as many biomedical labs as possible?

The interdisciplinary nature of this work means students under my supervision gain valuable experience interacting with, and communicating technical aspects of their work to, specialists in different fields inside and outside academia.

I seek to cultivate an open, supportive research culture where lab members feel inspired and challenged, but not pressured, to do their best science. I am happiest when I am in the lab problem-solving an experimental setup with you, or working with you to figure out what’s going on with your code.

Previous PhD graduates I have supervised have gone on to academic careers, R&D work in industry, and indeed other paths such as teaching and choosing to prioritise starting a family. You can see current and past group members here https://jmtayloruk.github.io/research/#lab-member-timeline and you are always welcome to contact any current or past group members to hear about their experiences.

I believe it is important for all of us to use whatever privilege we have to ensure Physics is accessible and welcoming to all, regardless of their background and life experiences. I am an EDI Officer for the School of Physics & Astronomy, which means I am a first point of contact for staff and students seeking confidential advice and guidance on issues such as harassment or discrimination. Through that role, and also as first and second supervisor to PhD students, and adviser of studies to undergraduate students, I have helped support and guide students through a wide range of professional and personal challenges.