Professor Mervyn Miles FRS

Mervyn Miles is a physicist distinguished for his groundbreaking new techniques in scanning-probe microscopy — the use of microscopes with probes attached for imaging the surface of an object. His work allows the viewing of biological systems in much greater detail than before, including molecules such as body fats and DNA.

His outstanding advancements comprise developing techniques for imaging at more than 100 images per second, sensing the surface of delicate specimens through a thin layer of water to prevent damaging contact, and bathing the microscope probe in liquid to enhance the image and minimise damage to the specimen.

Mervyn is currently Professor of Physics and head of the Nanophysics and Soft Matter Group at the University of Bristol. He is also Director of the Centre for Nanoscience and Quantum information and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award holder.

Subject groups

  • Astronomy and Physics

    Biophysics, Condensed matter incl softmatter, liquids, nano-materials

Professor Mervyn Miles FRS
Elected 2011
Committees Participated Role
Research Appointment Panel A(i) January 2024 - December 2026 Member
Research Professorships Panel September 2019 - June 2023 Member
Research Grants Committee: Physical Sciences January 2018 - December 2021 Member
Sectional Committee 2: Astronomy and physics February 2014 - November 2017 Member
Paul Instrument Fund Committee August 2012 - December 2016 Member