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Profile

Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford and Professorial Fellow at Mansfield College, Oxford, where, from 2008–2011, he was Head of Condensed Matter Physics. Based in the Clarendon Laboratory, his research uses muon-spin rotation and magnetoresistance techniques to study a range of organic and inorganic materials, particularly those showing interesting magnetic, superconducting, or dynamical properties. He has been developing a technique called DFT+μ for understanding muon sites, and is working on a project to upgrade Oxford's Pulsed Field system to generate higher magnetic fields.

Professor Blundell completed his PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Cambridge at the Cavendish Laboratory, and has published nearly 350 articles and numerous books in the field of Physics. 

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Interviewer

Professor Ard Louis, Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford.

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Select Publications

Quantum Field Theory for the Gifted Amateur (Oxford University Press, 2014), with Tom Lancaster.

A Very Short Introduction to Magnetism (Oxford University Press, 2012) 

A Very Short Introduction to Superconductivity (Oxford University Press, 2009) 

Concepts in Thermal Physics (Oxford University Press, 2006), with Katherine Blundell.

Magnetism in Condensed Matter (Oxford University Press, 2001)

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Academic Journeys

 
Uploaded by Oxford Conversations on 2016-12-11.
 

Academic Journey

 
Uploaded by Oxford Conversations on 2016-12-11.
 

How do you manage a marriage of two budding academics?

 
 

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Faith & Scholarship

 
Uploaded by Oxford Conversations on 2016-12-11.
 

Christian Scientists and their Institutions

 
 
 

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Scholarly Research

 
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On Magnetism

 
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On ‘emergent’ and ‘reductionist’ approaches to science

 
 
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Emergent Property Principles in Condensed Matter Physics & Non-scientists 1/2

 
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Emergent Property Principles in Condensed Matter Physics & Non-scientists 2/2

 
 
Uploaded by Oxford Conversations on 2016-12-11.
 

Quantum Field Theory for the Gifted Amateur

 
Uploaded by Oxford Conversations on 2016-12-11.
 

What is Quantum Field Theory?

 
 
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Applying Quantum Field Theory

 
 
 

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Academic Advice

 
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How is science like story-telling?

 
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What are the ingredients of a successful life as a scientist and an academic?

 
 
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On Questions, Passion, and Academic Integrity

 
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How important are ‘hunches’ in scientific research?

 
 
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Advice to Junior Researchers

 
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On PhD Supervisors

 
 
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Navigating the Research Team

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Peace-making in the Lab

 
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How do you deal with the self-doubt that academics regularly experience?