Andy Schofield is Professor of Theoretical Physics and Head of School.
His research is focussed on the quantum properties of matter. His interests include the physics of quantum criticality where quantum fluctuations drive matter between different states and can sometimes nucleate new ones. This can include novel magnetism and superconductivity. His research also covers unusual metallic states such as the Luttinger liquid where the electron dissociates into its spin and charge degrees of freedom. He works closely with a number of experimental research groups around the world.
Andy Schofield studied Natural Sciences at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge where he graduated in 1989 winning the Mott prize for physics and the Schuldham Plate.
He stayed on in Cambridge where he undertook PhD research in the IRC for Superconductivity working on the theory of high temperature cuprate superconductors. He was elected a Research Fellow at Gonville and Caius College and obtained his PhD in 1993.
In 1994 he moved to the USA where he worked at Rugers for two years, before returning to Cambridge. In 1997 Andy was awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship to work on theories of non-Fermi liquids. He became and Assistant Director of Studies at Gonville and Caius College on the Natural Sciences Tripos.
In 1999 Andy moved to the University of Birmingham and was promoted to Professor of Theroretical Physics in 2002. In that year he won the Institute of Physics' Maxwell Medal and Prize for work on the emergent properties of correlated electrons. From 2008-2010, Andy was Director of Research for the College of Engineering and Physical Science. Since 2010, he is the Head of School.
My interests lie in the field of strong correlated quantum systems and the new "emergent" phenomena that arise when interactions dominate the behaviour of quantum particles. Much of the motivation for this comes from experimental discoveries and I work closely with experimental groups from all over the world. Topics of current interest to me include
Full details of my research are kept on www.theory.bham.ac.uk/staff/schofield.