Northumbria physicist elected Fellow of the Institute of Physics

Dr Juna Sathian, an Associate Professor at Northumbria University, has been elected a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (IOP) in recognition of her contributions to physics research and her work widening access to the subject across the North East.

The IOP is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland, with an active role in promoting co-operation in physics around the world.

Founded in 1874, it has a membership of over 21,000 physicists and strives to make physics accessible to people from all backgrounds.

Fellow is a title awarded to those who have made a significant impact on their sector through their accomplishments in physics.

Dr Sathian is an Associate Professor in Northumbria's School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics, where she leads the Maser and Laser Technologies (MaLT) Group and is Deputy Lead of the Photonics Technology Group.

Her research covers applied optics and the development of laser and maser technology, including alexandrite ring lasers, room-temperature solid-state masers, and brightness-enhanced solid-state light sources.

She completed her PhD in Nonlinear Optics and Laser Physics at Queensland University of Technology, Australia, before joining Imperial College London in 2014 as a Postdoctoral Research Associate, where she was a key researcher in the team that developed the world's first continuous-wave room-temperature solid-state maser.

That breakthrough was later recognised with the IOP's prestigious Michael Faraday Medal and Prize, awarded to Dr Sathian and her collaborators in 2023.

She joined Northumbria in July 2019 and remains a Visiting Academic at Imperial College London.

Alongside her research, Dr Sathian has been a driving force in widening access to physics across the North East.

As a committee member of Women in Physics at the IOP, she works to challenge perceptions that put girls and young women off the subject, and has taken her own outreach into schools across the region, building on work she began in Australia, where she was State representative of the Australian Institute of Physics.

Speaking about her Fellowship, Dr Sathian said: “I am incredibly proud and deeply honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Institute of Physics. For me, this recognition is not only a milestone in my own career, but also a celebration of the people, collaborations and opportunities that have shaped my journey in physics.

“Physics has taken me across countries, institutions and disciplines, and has given me the privilege of contributing to pioneering research while working alongside exceptional colleagues and students. I am passionate about pushing the boundaries of what is possible through research, but I believe our responsibility as scientists goes much further. We must also open doors for others.

“I want young people, particularly girls and those who may never have imagined that physics was for them, to see that they belong in science and can help shape its future. I hope my journey demonstrates that where you start should never determine how far you can go.

“I am extremely grateful to the Institute of Physics for this recognition and for the important work it does in supporting the physics community, championing inclusion and widening participation, and inspiring the next generation of physicists. I look forward to continuing to contribute to that mission through my research, education and public engagement, here at Northumbria, across the North East and beyond.”

Dr Sathian's contribution to physics and to the North East has also been recognised by Newcastle's Discovery Museum, where she is one of 16 women permanently featured in the We Are Here: Inspirational Women trail.

The trail celebrates women from across the region who have shaped their communities and professions in medicine, science, academia and activism. It also includes Chi Onwurah MP and equality and diversity campaigner Ranjana Bell MBE.