Cockcroft expert appointed as STFC Council member

A leading University of Liverpool researcher has been appointed to the Council of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

Professor Carsten P Welsch, Head of Liverpool’s Accelerator Science cluster based at the Cockcroft Institute, who has also been leading Liverpool’s Physics Department since 2016, has been confirmed as a Council member of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) by the board of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Prof Carsten P. Welsch

Professor Welsch is a recognised leader in particle accelerator design and optimisation. His research covers the development of advanced instrumentation, medical applications, data intensive science, antimatter physics, and novel high gradient accelerators. He has led numerous large scale international projects and is a member of a large number of advisory panels.

He said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed to the STFC Council following an open international recruitment process and look forward to playing an active role in shaping STFC’s strategy.”

STFC’s Chief Executive, Professor Mark Thomson, said: “I am extremely pleased to welcome Professor Welsch as a new Council member. His immense expertise will be invaluable as we continue to support our communities to shape the future of STFC’s research programme.”

Funding research and innovation

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is a government agency that carries out research in science and engineering, and funds UK research in areas including particle physics, nuclear physics, particle accelerator and space science.

The Council members work with the STFC Executive Chair to deliver the aims and objectives and to support UK Research and Innovation’s overall mission to maintain the UK’s world-leading position in research and innovation.