Dr. João Rodrigues

Director of Studies at St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge; Fellow at Wolfson College, University of Cambridge; Physics and Mathematics Supervisor at the University of Cambridge; Designs and teaches undergraduate Physics and Mathematics curricula for multiple colleges of the University

João Rodrigues received his PhD in High Energy Physics from the University of Amsterdam, where his early research focused on nucleon structure and fundamental interactions, providing him with a strong foundation in theoretical physics and advanced mathematics. In 2002, he joined the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge (DAMTP) as a Research Associate, marking the beginning of a research and teaching career at Cambridge spanning more than two decades. In addition to his research, Dr Rodrigues is a Senior Tutor / Director of Studies for Natural Sciences undergraduates at the University of Cambridge, with over 20 years of teaching experience. He plays a central role in teaching and designing undergraduate courses in physics and mathematics, and is actively involved in shaping the undergraduate physics curriculum.

Prof. Jessica Gwynne

Director of Studies at St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge; Professor of Teaching and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy; Deputy Head of the School of Physical Sciences; Responsible for designing and delivering undergraduate courses in Materials Science and Physics across multiple colleges of the University of Cambridge

Professor Jessica Gwynne read Natural Sciences (Materials Science) at Robinson College, University of Cambridge, where she received systematic training in mechanics of materials, polymer science, and biomaterials. She is actively involved in undergraduate education and curriculum development in Natural Sciences and Materials Science, integrating cutting-edge research into her teaching to cultivate students’ engineering mindset and interdisciplinary understanding. In recognition of her excellence and innovation in teaching, she was awarded the Pilkington Prize for Teaching in 2019, a distinguished accolade for educators at the University of Cambridge.

Mr. Robin Hughes

Chairman of the BPhO Committee for the past ten years; British National Head Coach, UK Team Leader at IPhO; Member of the Isaac Physics team at the Cavendish Laborator; Cambridge Fellow & Interviewer

Robin Hughes currently serves as an undergraduate physics supervisor at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physics. Prior to this, he accumulated extensive experience in high school physics education, teaching for 35 years at the prestigious Kings College School Wimbledon in the UK. Additionally, Dr. Hughes has been the Chair of the British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) for the past decade and has long served as the UK team leader for the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). The BPhO Committee comprises a team of experienced and dedicated teachers who aim to provide students with more opportunities in physics learning. He also co-founded the online physics learning platform isaacphysics.org. Supported officially by the University of Cambridge, Isaac Physics is widely recommended by both Cambridge and Oxford academics.

Prof. Anson Cheung

BPhO Board Member; Cambridge Lecturer; Former Cambridge interviewer with 10+ years of experience

Anson Cheung is an associate professor in London as well as an affiliated lecturer in Cambridge. He was educated at St Paul’s School London, one of the leading UK academic schools. Whilst there he was a member of the UK Physics Olympiad team at the International Physics Olympiad. He attended Trinity College Cambridge as an undergraduate, studying Natural Sciences, going on to complete a PhD at the Cavendish Laboratory on the quantum behaviour of matter at low temperatures, and being awarded a prestigious Fellowship of Trinity College for his work.

Prof. Neil Downie

Senior Physics Researcher involved in the discovery of the gluon; PhD & Senior Researcher at Imperial College; Visiting Professor at the Royal Academy of Engineering; BPhO Senior Coach

Neil majored Physics at Merton College, Oxford UK, followed by a PhD at Imperial College, London, on Fast Decision Problems in Electron-Positron Collisions at High Energy. As a member of the TASSO team at the DESY accelerator in Hamburg, Germany he was involved in the discovery of the gluon, the particle of the strong nuclear field. He then moved on to a career in industrial R&D in electronics, instrumentation and gases, including British Oxygen (now Linde) and Air Products & Chemicals Inc. He was made a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor of Innovation at the University of Surrey 2011-2016, recognising his work for a number of years in developing practical engineering projects for students, using electronics, mechanisms, pneumatics and fundamental ideas from physics.

Dr Stephen Martin

BPhO National Coach; Physics Educator; Cambridge PhD

Since graduating from St Johns College, Cambridge with an MA and PhD, Steve has been teaching Physics, Maths and technical subjects in State and Independent Schools in the UK. From 1984- 2012 he was Head of Physics at Hills Road Sixth Form College until retirement.
His long teaching career with very able students has been alongside his work as a Principal examiner in Engineering Science (O-level) and Modular Physics A-level, the writer of the BPhO Physics Challenge Paper, juror at 2014 International Young Physicists’Tournament (IYPT), and in the UK in 2014. Between 1990-2001 Steve lead exchange schemes for students at Moscow Lomonossof University (MGU).

Dr Andrew French

Senior Engineer (8 years); Senior Physics Educator; BPhO Problem Writer; PhD, UCL

Andrew has taught Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science at Winchester College since 2011. Previously he taught at Sherborne School, and worked as a systems engineer for eight years on a wide range of projects, from meteorological sensors, to wind farms, to signal processing algorithms associated with marine and land-based radar systems. While in industry, he completed a PhD with University College London on aspects of phased-arrays. He studied at Christ's College, Cambridge from 1997-2002, culminating in a Masters in Experimental & Theoretical Physics. He also holds a postgraduate Master of Philosophy in Fluid Dynamics from the BP Institute in Cambridge and a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics teaching from Southampton University. Dr French helps deliver the BPhO Round 1 online seminars, and writes the BPhO Computational Physics Challenge.

Vivien Martins

Experienced Physics Educator

Vivien graduated from Cambridge in Natural Sciences, and has taught Physics at all levels in a wide range of schools in the Cambridge area; from the most highly academic Oxbridge focused schools, to ones giving students the opportunity to use their physics to support their entry to related courses. She has been an examiner for A level physics, and has seen the examination system from both sides. Yearning to do something medical, she studied and trained to become a Podiatrist. Physics/engineering and teaching experience still informs a lot of her specialist work as a Podiatrist, especially in the areas of biomechanics, gait analysis and orthotic therapy, in which she is highly regarded. She is currently studying for an MSc in Clinical Biomechanics which involves application of a whole range of physics and applied maths principles as applied to human structure and movement both in everyday life and in sports and medicine.

Stuart Hindle

BPhO Coach; Senior Physics Educator; Experienced Oxbridge Application Instructor

Stuart is currently a physics teacher in a prestigious British independent school, which is part of the Eton group, and has lots of experience in successfully preparing students to apply to Oxbridge, having tutored and sent many students there in the past decade. Prior to becoming a teacher, Stuart studied Engineering Science at St Anne’s College, University of Oxford, specialising in numerical methods for the computation of shakedown loads of engineering structures and other dynamical systems, with applications ranging in aerospace, civil and mechanical engineering. Stuart went on to work as a structural engineering, and an acoustic consultant, working on some of the most exciting civil engineering projects around the world, including the Tottenham Hotspur football stadium and the Louvre Museum, in Abu Dhabi. Stuart has been one of the team leaders for the UK’s IPhO team.

Ingrid Murray

Teacher trainer at Issac Physics, Cambridge; BPhO Coach

Ingrid Murray graduated from Newnham College, University of Cambridge, where she read Physical Natural Sciences. She currently works at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, serving as the Teacher Support Manager for the Isaac Physics project. In this role, she is dedicated to advancing physics education nationwide and promoting science outreach. With over 20 years of experience in physics and science teaching, Ingrid has taught at multiple schools and colleges across the UK, and has held positions including STEM Coordinator and Head of Physics & Science. Her work focuses on the development of physics teaching and curriculum design.

James Walkling

BPhO Coach; PhD Candidate; Graduate from Cambridge

Ollie Breach

BPhO Coach; PhD Candidate; Graduate from Cambridge