Michael Holynski obtained his PhD from the University of Birmingham in 2012, on the creation of an experiment for the study of low dimensional systems using Bose-Einstein condensates.
Michael then joined the Instituto de Física de São Carlos of the Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil, as a FAPESP post-doctoral fellow to study cooperative scattering of light from cold strontium, design an atom-cavity experiment for both the study of new cavity-QED regimes, and to enable the continuous measurement of gravity using cold strontium. During his time based in São Carlos, Michael also undertook a visiting fellowship at the University of Birmingham, and worked in the team of Dr Jon Goldwin to realise collective strong coupling of potassium to a ring cavity.
In 2014, Michael returned to the University of Birmingham to lead the Atom Interferometry Team within the Cold Atoms group with Professor Kai Bongs. The initial focus of the team was on delivery of the European Commission project iSense, through the successful development of a transportable atom interferometer in collaboration with partners across Europe. Following on from this, the team is now undertaking the gravity sensing work of the UK National Quantum Technology Hub in Sensor and Metrology funded by EPSRC. This includes a range of activity focused on bringing cold atoms based gravity sensors to practical applications, covering sensor and sub-system development, and a significant translational activity through collaboration with industry through Innovate UK. A strong focus of the team is the Gravity Imager project funded by DSTL, which is developing gravity gradiometers to increase technology readiness and demonstrate field applications.
In 2017, Michael was appointed as an Innovation Fellow at the University of Birmingham.