Rate My Professor David Jenkins

Professor David Jenkins is a Professor in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology at the University of York, where he heads the Nuclear Physics Group, the largest such group in the UK. He earned his BSc and DPhil from the University of York and has built a distinguished career at the institution, advancing from Lecturer and Senior Lecturer to Reader and Professor in Physics. With over 25 years of experience in experimental nuclear physics, his research focuses on the structure of exotic nuclei, shape evolution and coexistence, nuclear astrophysics, nuclear symmetries, nuclear shapes and systematics of nuclear structure, nucleon-nucleon correlations, fission in nuclei, and the physics of neutron stars. Jenkins has pioneered new techniques in experimental nuclear physics and extended his expertise to practical applications in nuclear security, decommissioning, and medical imaging, becoming an internationally recognised expert in radiation detection methods.

Jenkins has led the expansion of the Nuclear Physics Group into thriving programmes in experimental nuclear physics, nuclear theory, nuclear astrophysics, and hadron physics. As Director of the PLANET Centre for Doctoral Training, he oversees training for industry-ready nuclear scientists through collaborations with universities, national laboratories, and industry partners, addressing challenges in national security, clean energy, healthcare, and waste management. His international efforts include Global Challenges Research Fund projects with South African universities, establishing the Modern African Nuclear DEtector LAboratory (MANDELA) network. He was awarded the 2023 Institute of Physics Ernest Rutherford Medal and Prize for outstanding contributions to experimental nuclear physics, nuclear applications, and widening participation. Jenkins held a Science and Technology Facilities Council Science-in-Society fellowship and provided continuous professional development courses for school teachers via the National Science Learning Centre. Key publications include the edited volume Nuclear Data: Applications to society and industry (2025) and articles such as Alpha clustering in nuclei: another form of shape coexistence? (Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics, 2016) and Clustering and superdeformation in 28Si (Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2014).