I studied Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Leicester, graduating in 1990 before undertaking a PhD in the Ionospheric Physics Group which later became the Radio and Space Plasma Physics Group and is now the Planetary Science Group
From 2013 I was the PI for ground-based support of ESA’s Cluster mission for which I was awarded an ESA award for 'outstanding contributions to the Cluster mission' in 2005. I was awarded the European Geophysical Society's Young Scientist's Publication award in 2001 and the RAS Chapman Medal in 2013.
I have been an Associate Editor of Geophysical Research Letters and the Journal of Geophysical Research and am currently a Topical Editor for Annales Geophysicae. I was lead proposer for the Ravens and Janus mission concepts to the ESA’s M3, M4, and M5 calls and the leader of the ESA science definition team for KuaFu-B from 2011-2012.