ATHENE M DONALD DBE, FRS

Brief Biography

Present Employment :

1998- Professor of Experimental Physics, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge.

Education :

1971 - 4 Cambridge University, B.A. Natural Sciences (Theoretical Physics) 1st class.

1974 - 7 Cambridge University, Ph.D. College graduate scholarship.

Previous employment:

1977 - 81 Cornell University (Department of Materials Science and Engineering), Postdoctoral associate.

1981 - 3 SERC Fellowship held at the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Cambridge University.

1983 - 5 Royal Society 1983 Research Fellowship held at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge.

1985 - 95 Lecturer in the Department of Physics, University of Cambridge.

1995- 8 Reader in Experimental Physics, University of Cambridge

Honours and Prizes

1989 Charles Vernon Boys Prize of the Institute of Physics.

1989 Samuel Locker Award in Physics (University of Birmingham; £5000)

1995 Rosenhain Medal and Prize (Institute of Materials)

1999 Elected Fellow of the Royal Society

2003 William Hopkins Prize of the Cambridge Philosophical Society

2005 Mott Medal of the Institute of Physics

2006 Bakerian Prize Lecturer of the Royal Society

2009 L’Oreal/UNESCO For Women in Science Laureate for Europe

2009 Founders Prize of the IOP Polymer Physics group

2010 Fellow of the Science Museum

2010 Appointed Dame Commander of the British Empire for services to Physics

2010 Faraday Medal of the Institute of Physics

2011 UKRC Woman of Outstanding Achievement Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)

Selected National and International Committees and Responsibilities

1994-7 Member of OST Foresight Technology Panel on Food/Drink

1994- Member EPSRC College

1994-6 IOP Schools Lecturer for 1995/6

1999-03 Member Governing Council for BBSRC Institute of Food Research and Science Sub-Committee

1999-02 Member BBSRC Agrifood Committee

2001 Advisor to RAE in Biophysics

2001 Member Research Council Panel for Basic Technology

2001- 7 Member of the Polymer Physics Group Committee of the IOP

2002-4 Member Physics Strategic Advisory Team for the EPSRC

2002 Member Panel to choose new Director of ESPCI, Paris

2002-6 Member Scientific Steering Committee for 2nd Target Station at ISIS (CLRC)

2003-4 Member BBSRC Strategy Board

2003-4 Chair BBSRC Panel on Bioinformatics and E-science

2004-8 Chair Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship Committee (Physical Sciences) Royal Society

2004-6 Member Mullard Medal Committee of the Royal Society

2004-5 Member Scientific Advisory Board for the University of Bristol Physics Department

2004-6 Member Council of the Royal Society

2005-08 Member RAE 2008 Physics Sub-Panel (UOA 19)

2006-8 Member Royal Society Innovation Panel

2006- 10 1st Chair of Biological Physics Group of the IOP

2006 - Member International Scientific Committee for ESPCI, Paris

2006 -7 Member Academic Stakeholder Forum for KT Network in Innovative Chemistry (DTI)

2006 Expert Member of Panel for the Chair in Physical Chemistry, Uppsala University

2007 -8 Chair BBSRC review of EBS portfolio

2007-9 Interim Director of the Physics of Medicine Initiative in Cambridge University

2010-11 Chair BBSRC Committee C (Technological and Methodological Development) (Deputy Chair 2009)

2010 Member REF Physics Pilot Panel

2011- Chair Royal Society Education Committee

2011- Trustee of the National Museum for Science and Industry

Departmental and University Committees and Responsibilities

1994- 2010 Elector for the Oliver Gatty Studentship in Cambridge University

1999-0 Member University Library Syndicate, and Appointments Sub-Syndicates

1999- 2010 Member University Library Science Subcommittee

2001 General Board member of Computing Faculty Appointments Committee

2002-5 Member Departmental Senior Management Group

2003- 4 Member Faculty Promotions Panel

2003-5 Deputy Head of Department

2004-5 Member General Board Standard Review Committee of Department of Materials Science

2004 Elector to the 1875 Chair of Engineering, University of Cambridge

2004 Elector to the Schlumberger Professorship of Complex Physical Systems, University of Cambridge

2004-8 Theme leader for Biophysics in the Cavendish –KAIST (Korean) collaboration

2004- 10 Elector to the Herschel Smith Professorship of Physics, University of Cambridge

2004-5 Chair Departmental Personnel Committee

2005- 8 General Board Appointee on the Senior Promotions Panel for Veterinary Medicine.

2005-10 Deputy Head of Department with responsibility for Finance and Resources

2005-10 Chair Departmental Finance Committee

2006 Elector to the Goldsmiths Professorship of Materials Science

2006 Elector to the Professorship of Physics and the Jacksonian Professorship of Natural Philosophy

2008- Member School of Physical Sciences Senior Promotions Panel

2009- Member University Council

2009- Member Human Resources Committee

2009 – Member University Executive Committee

2009 – Member University Equality and Diversity Committee

2011- Member Departmental Senior Management Group

2011- Chair Departmental REF Advisory Group

Diversity Work and Responsibilities

2002 Member International Jury for the L’Oreal/Unesco Women in Science Awards

2007- Director of University of Cambridge WiSETI (Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Initiative)

2008 - Member University of Cambridge Equality and Diversity Committee

2008 Member Panel L’Oreal For Women In Science Jury (UK Fellowships)

2009- Chair Athena Forum (Deputy Chair from September 2008-9)

2009 Member University of Cambridge Gender Representation Working Group

2010- Member Royal Society Equality and Diversity Advisory Network

2010- Chair University of Cambridge Gender Equality Group

2010- University of Cambridge Gender Equality Champion

2010 Speaker at the Österreichischer Wissenschaftstag 2010 Wissenschaft und Gender

Editorial Work and Conference Organisation

1998-9 Symposium organiser on Materials Science of Food at MRS (Boston) Fall 1999 meeting.

1998-

Member Editorial Board, Polymer International

1999-01 Member Organising Committee IOM Conference Polymers 01 (Bath)

1999- Member Advisory Board, Journal Macromolecular Science - Physics

1999- Member Editorial Advisory Board, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

1999-04 Founder Editor-in Chief European Physical Journal E; International Advisor to the Editorial Board 2006-

2001- Member Macromolecular Physics Board of the European Physical Society

2000-3 Volume Organiser for MRS Bulletin for 2003.