EDUCATION:

PhD 2006
Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK
Thesis title: “The Ignition of RDX and HMX”
Thesis Advisor: Professor John Field
Research description: The localisation of energy and stress in shocked or impacted solid
materials was the common theme for two separate projects. High-speed photography, stress gauges and second harmonic generation were used to follow the molecular and mesoscale details of impacted granular materials on microsecond timescales and sub-millimeter lengthscales.

MSci and BA 2001
University of Cambridge, UK
Major subject: Physics (Natural Sciences) Result: 1st class honours



ACADEMIC POSITIONS:

Natural Environment Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow from October 2010 for three years
Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, Southampton University, UK
Research description: My proposed research will examine the effect of natural ocean surfactants on bubble formation processes underneath breaking waves. This experimental and theoretical project will also involve close collaboration with the National Oceanography Centre and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego.

Postdoctoral Researcher June 2008-July 2010
Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, USA
PI: Dr David Farmer
Research description: The theory and inversion methods needed to use an acoustical resonator to detect bubbles were developed. This permitted an extended range of bubble sizes to be measured using this technique (from 5 – 300 microns). Bubble population data was collected at sea during the RaDyO experiment, and can be compared with many simultaneous measurements of the ocean conditions. The results are currently being incorporated into a general model of bubble cloud structure in the upper ocean which includes turbulence, advection, buoyancy and gas dissolution.

Visiting Scholar May 2007- May 2008
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, USA
PI: Dr Grant Deane
Research description: The driving mechanism for bubble sound production during turbulent fragmentation, using simultaneous high-speed photography and acoustical measurements. This mechanism was then used to drive fragmenting bubbles in a model to investigate the effects of bubble-bubble coupling on the natural sound produced by bubbles underneath breaking waves.




PUBLICATIONS:

Selected Journal Articles:

1. H. Czerski and G.B. Deane “The effect of coupling on bubble fragmentation acoustics”, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. (accepted)

2. H. Czerski and G.B. Deane “Contribution to the acoustic excitation of bubbles released from a nozzle”, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Volume 128, Issue 5 (2010).

3. G.B. Deane and H. Czerski, “A mechanism stimulating sound production from air bubbles released from a nozzle”, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Volume 123, Issue 6, pp. EL126-EL132 (2008)

4. H. Czerski and L.M. Brown “Application of the slip-circle construction to a spherical indenter” Physical Review Letters D ,41 (2008)

5. H. Czerski and W.G. Proud, “Relationship between the morphology of granular cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine and its shock sensitivity', Journal of Applied Physics, 102, 113515 (2007)

6. H. Czerski, M.W. Greenaway, W.G. Proud and J.E. Field, 'Beta-delta phase change during dropweight impact on cyclotetramethylene-tetranitroamine', Journal of Applied Physics, Vol.96, 8, pp 4131 – 4134 (2004)

Other published articles:

H. Czerski, ‘Scientists in the newsroom’, Physics World (2009)
H. Czerski, 'Let the inner Einstein out', Physics World (2005)
H. Czerski, 'Why I ...believe scientists should be less ashamed of their passion', Times Higher Education Supplement (21 October 2005)



Teaching Experience:

2001 – 2007 Churchill College and Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK.
Supervised all first year and some second year undergraduate physics courses.


Other Relevant Experience:

August 2008 Curacao, Netherlands Antilles
Research diver on a marine biology research project for five weeks, assisting a colleague from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

October 2006- July 2007 Cavendish Laboratory
Assistant to Professor L.M. Brown
Development of material for a book. Topic: Deformation of solid materials.

July - September 2005 Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA
Independent project which was a continuation of my PhD research.

September 2001 - March 2002 Department of Atmospheric Physics, University of Toronto, Canada
The major project was to build a system to monitor ozone over the Arctic during the polar night.


Selected Science Communication and Media Experience:

2011: Co-presenting a BBC2 science series about how the tilt of the Earth drives weather. The working title for the series is “23 Degrees”. It will be broadcast in January 2012.
2010: Initiated and organised an oceanography public open day at the Graduate School of Oceanography, Rhode Island, USA.
2006: Paid consultant to the BBC children’s science program “Whizz whizz bang bang”
developing small demonstrations to illustrate scientific principles.
2006: Invited to present ten 'Everyday Science' slots for the live webcasts of the annual British Association Festival of Science. Website: www.sciencelive.org
2005: 'International Year of Physics'. Helped launch this year-long focus on physics with the 'Einstein Flip', a BMX bike stunt used to show the application of physics to everyday life. Worked closely with the Institute of Physics throughout the year on a range of events designed to raise general awareness of physics and its applications.
2004 – present: UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council “Noisemaker”. Part of a scheme to highlight young scientists and enable those scientists to talk to young people and the media about their job and their science. This has involved many events, including hands-on demonstrations, talks, and TV appearances. Website: www.noisemakers.org.
2005: Invited to give the opening lecture at the Cambridge Science Festival.


AWARDS

Prize for oral presentation at the conference “New Trends in Research of Energetic Materials” in Pardubice, Czech Republic, 2006

Media Fellowship from the British Association for the Advancement of Science. This allowed me to work as a journalist at the Times Higher Education Supplement in London for five weeks. The scheme aims to improve understanding between scientists and the national media. 2005

Oral presentation prize. TEEMAC (Terminal Effects on Energetic Materials) Conference for Young Researchers, Cranfield University, UK, 2005

Carl Storm Fellowship to attend the 2004 Gordon Conference on Energetic Materials, 2004