Rate My Professor John Girkin

Girkin began his career in industry at Photon Control, designing the first commercial diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser, followed by seven years at Keeler Ltd developing ophthalmic instrumentation. In 1996, he joined the Institute of Photonics at the University of Strathclyde, founding the applications team and the Centre for Biophotonics, and serving as theme leader for Physics and Life Sciences within SUPA. He moved to Durham University in 2009 as part of the Biophysical Sciences initiative, becoming Director of the Biophysical Sciences Institute in 2011 and currently directing the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation. A Fellow of the Institute of Physics and elected Fellow of the Optical Society of America in 2017, Girkin has authored the book "A Practical Guide to Optical Microscopy" (CRC Press, 2021). His highly cited publications include "Optical ferris wheel for ultracold atoms" (Optics Express, 2007; 447 citations) and "Practical implementation of adaptive optics in multiphoton microscopy" (Optics Express, 2003; 331 citations). He has held editorial roles such as Deputy Editor of Optics Express (2019–2025) and Editor of Biosensors and Bioelectronics (2010–2018), and committee positions including Chair of the EPSRC Strategic Advisory Team in Healthcare (2019–2025). Girkin delivered the Jeremiah Horrocks Public Lecture in 2016.