Helen Gleeson

Helen F Gleeson OBE FInstP is the Cavendish Professor of Physics at the University of Leeds (UK) which she joined in 2015 after more than 30 years at the University of Manchester (UK).

Her work focuses on fundamental experimental studies of chiral, ferroelectric and elastomeric liquid crystals, often developing new methodology such as her use of resonant x-ray scattering to understand antiferro- and ferri-electric liquid crystals in devices.  

Helen’s inventions include switchable focus contact lenses, sensors, ferroelectric nematics as electrocaloric materials and molecular auxetic liquid crystal elastomers, the latter being exploited through her spin out company, Auxetec.

Helen was awarded an OBE in 2009 by Queen Elizabeth II for her work on equality and inclusion and currently holds an EPSRC Established Career and ED&I Champion Fellowship. Her research awards include the Hilsum and GW Gray Medals (British Liquid Crystal Society), the Holweck Prize (Institute of Physics and French Physical Society), the Rank Prize Lecture, the BLCS Sturgeon Lecture and the Alfred Saupe Medal (German Liquid Crystal Society).