Professor Paul McKenna
Deputy Associate Principal
Physics
Personal statement
Paul McKenna is Deputy Associate Principal (Research & Knowledge Exchange). He leads activity in the areas of Research and Knowledge Exchange, with associated roles aligning with the University’s Postgraduate Research portfolio and Researcher Development. He was Vice Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Science from September 2021 to January 2023 and Head of the Department of Physics from August 2018 to August 2021.
Prof. McKenna’s research focuses on ultra-intense laser-plasma interactions, including the development and application of laser-driven particle and radiation sources, plasma optics and photonics, and high field science.
He is a member of EPSRC's Capital Infrastructure Strategic Advisory Team since 2017 and a former member of STFC's Science Board (2017-20). He holds scientific advisory roles for several international high power laser facilities (e.g. the Program Advisory Committee for the Extreme Light infrastructure-Nuclear Physics facility) and held a visiting position at the Central Laser Facility at Harwell. He was an EPSRC Leadership Fellow from 2012-17 and was elected a Fellow of The Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2021.
Prize And Awards
- Recipient
- 1/10/2023
- Recipient
- 30/3/2020
Publications
- Palla-Papavlu, Alexandra, Moldovan Antoniu, Bonciu Anca, Sătulu Veronica, Ion Valentin, Urzică Iuliana, Dorobanțu Daniel, Marin Cristina, Ghenuche Petru, , , Doria Domenico, Malka Victor, Octavian Cernăianu Mihail
- Communications Materials (2026)
- , , , , Gray Ross, , ,
- 52nd EPS Plasma Physics Conference 2026 (2026)
- , , , , , , , , Gray Ross,
- The 4th ELIMED Workshop MEDical and Multidisciplinary Applications of Laser-driven Ion beams at ELI Beamlines Facility (2026)
- , , , , Frazer Timothy, , , , Dzelzainis Thomas, , , , Gray Ross,
- The 4th ELIMED Workshop MEDical and Multidisciplinary Applications of Laser-driven Ion beams at ELI Beamlines Facility (2026)
- Calvin Lyndsey, Gerstmayr Elias, Arran C, Tudor Liviana, Foster T, Fleck K, Bergmann B, Doria D, Kettle Brendan, Maguire H, Malka V, Manek P, Mangles SPD, , Mihai RE, Popa S, Ridgers Christopher, Smolyanskiy P, , Deas R, Sarri G
- Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Vol 68 (2026)
- Trines R M G M, Schmitz Holger, , ,
- Physical Review Research Vol 8 (2026)
Professional Activities
- Speaker
- 24/6/2026
- Speaker
- 17/3/2026
- Contributor
- 11/2/2026
- Speaker
- 21/5/2025
- Participant
- 5/5/2025
- Speaker
- 5/5/2025
Projects
- McDonald, James (Principal Investigator) Bedford, Tim (Co-investigator) Compton-Daw, Emma (Co-investigator) Connolly, Patricia (Co-investigator) Grealy, Madeleine (Co-investigator) Mahn, Churnjeet (Co-investigator) McKenna, Paul (Co-investigator) Graham, Angela (Researcher) Salamon, Katrina (Researcher) Sin, I Lin (Researcher) Weikum, Maria Katharina (Researcher) Wells-Holland, Chris (Researcher)
- 01-Jan-2026 - 31-Jan-2026
- McKenna, Paul (Principal Investigator)
- 31-Jan-2025 - 30-Jan-2029
- McKenna, Paul (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2025 - 30-Jan-2030
- McKenna, Paul (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2026
- McKenna, Paul (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2025 - 30-Jan-2031
- McKenna, Paul (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2029
Contact
Professor
Paul
McKenna
Deputy Associate Principal
Physics
Email: paul.mckenna@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 5712