Jessamyn Fairfield (born 13 October 1984) is an American physicist who researches biocompatible

nanomaterials * Nanomaterials describe, in principle, materials of which a single unit is sized (in at least one dimension) between 1 and 100 nm (the usual definition of nanoscale). Nanomaterials research takes a materials science-based approach to nan ...

and

neuromorphic Neuromorphic engineering, also known as neuromorphic computing, is the use of electronic circuits to mimic neuro-biological architectures present in the nervous system. A neuromorphic computer/chip is any device that uses physical artificial ne ...

devices at NUI Galway.

Early life and education

Fairfield earned a BA in physics and applied math at the

University of California Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant univ ...

in 2005, before an MSc and PhD in physics at the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...

in 2011.

Research and career

After her PhD, Fairfield joined Trinity College Dublin as a research fellow. Her research focuses on

, examining the optoelectronic properties of nanocrystals and nanowires. She is interested in

materials, whose function mimics the synaptic connection of the brain. Alongside publishing in academic journals, she is a regular contributor to the popular science magazine '' Physics World''. In 2018, Fairfield completed a residency program in the

Arctic Circle The Arctic Circle is one of the two polar circles, and the most northerly of the five major circles of latitude as shown on maps of Earth. Its southern equivalent is the Antarctic Circle. The Arctic Circle marks the southernmost latitude at w ...

, where she worked on a project on the

effects of climate change on humans The effects of climate change impact the physical environment, ecosystems and human societies. The environmental effects of climate change are broad and far-reaching. They affect the water cycle, oceans, sea and land ice (glaciers), sea leve ...

. In 2019, she participated in the

Homeward Bound Homeward may refer to: * ''Homeward'' (film), a 2019 film * "Homeward" (song), a song by The Sundays from their 1997 album ''Static and Silence'' * "Homeward" (''TNG'' episode), a ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' episode from the seventh seaso ...

leadership development program and

Antarctic expedition This list of Antarctic expeditions is a chronological list of expeditions involving Antarctica. Although the existence of a southern continent had been hypothesized as early as the writings of Ptolemy in the 1st century AD, the South Pole was no ...

during which she also studied climate change.

Public engagement

Fairfield was the lead writer at DARTofPhysics, a campaign prompted a citywide discussion about physics through a series of adverts on public transport. In 2015, she joined Dublin's City of Physics program, acting as a blog editor and taking over management of

Bright Club Bright Club is a collection of comedy-club-style events in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia promoting public engagement by scientists, academics and others with specialist knowledge. It has been described by ''The Guardian'' as "a 'th ...

. She trains speakers and funds the initiative through Science Foundation Ireland. In 2016, she gave the

Institute of Physics The Institute of Physics (IOP) is a UK-based learned society and professional body that works to advance physics education, research and application. It was founded in 1874 and has a worldwide membership of over 20,000. The IOP is the Physica ...

Summer Session, bringing researchers together with live music, to explore electronics and the brain. Fairfield brought

Soapbox Science ''Soapbox Science'' is a public outreach platform that promotes women working in science and the research that they do. The events turns public spaces into an area for learning and debate, in the spirit of Hyde Park's Speakers' Corner. Soapbox Scien ...

Galway Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a City status in Ireland, city in the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lo ...

in 2017, bringing women in science to public spaces to talk about their research, and returned to organize its 2018 and 2019 events. She is the science reporter for Newstalk's radio show "Futureproof". She gives regular public talks as well as appearing in newspapers and on television. In December 2017 she spoke at

TEDx TED Conferences, LLC (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an American-Canadian non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan "ideas worth spreading". TED was founded by Richard Sau ...

TUM in Munich.

Awards

* 2017 –

Mary Somerville Medal * 2013 –

Early Career Communicator Award

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fairfield, Jessamyn 1984 births Living people 21st-century American physicists American women physicists Science communicators Science communication award winners University of California, Berkeley alumni 21st-century American women scientists