Dr Juna Sathian

Physicist, civic leader, and community advocate recognised for pioneering work in maser and laser physics and for advancing climate action and sustainable transport policy in Newcastle. First female Head of Physics at Northumbria University and the first Indian-origin Councillor and Cabinet Member in Newcastle City Council. Honoured with the Institute of Physics’ Michael Faraday Gold Medal and Prize (2023).

• Co-author of the world’s first continuous-wave room-temperature maser (Nature, 2018).
• Led the world’s first LED-pumped room-temperature maser (Nature Portfolio, 2024).
• Developed patented light-source technologies for next-generation masers and lasers.
• Established the North East’s first Maser Research Group, securing >£6M in research funding.
• Founder of Clean Community, Clean World campaign (2021–present), nationally recognised for engaging children and families in environmental action.

• Michael Faraday Gold Medal & Prize, Institute of Physics (2023)
• ABC Public Sector Award (2023)
• Featured among The Most Influential South Asians in the North East (2023 & 2024)
• Recognised in Newcastle International Women’s Day Booklet (2025)
• Featured in Asian Standard, Northern Echo, and Business iQ for contributions to science, politics, and community action
• Featured in the Discovery Museum’s ‘We Are Here’ trail as one of the region’s most inspirational women
• Recognised in Northumbria University’s Hall of Fame for contributions to research and leadership.

• Founder of Clean Community, Clean World campaign – engaged over 100 local residents in weekly litter picks.
• Mentor to PhD students and young researchers, fostering inclusion in STEM.
• Speaker at schools, community forums, and international conferences to inspire the next generation of scientists and civic leaders.

• LED-pumped room-temperature solid-state maser." Communications Engineering 4.1 (2025): 122
• Continuous-wave room-temperature diamond maser." Nature 555.7697 (2018): 493-496.
• Enhanced magnetic Purcell effect in room-temperature masers." Nature Communications 6.1 (2015): 6215.
• Light extraction from blue luminescent concentrator Ce: LYSO." Optics Express 33.16 (2025): 34772-34782.

• Sathian, J., & Oxborrow, M. (2020). A light source. US10502882B2.
• Breeze, J., Alford, N.M., Kay, C.M., Sathian, J., & Salvadori, E. (2019). Room temperature masing using spin-defect centres. WO2019021002A1.

• PI, EPSRC New Investigator Award: LED-pumped Masers (2023–26) – £0.5M
• Co-I, NERC Net Zero Polar Science (2026–2032) – £2.7M
• Co-PI, EPSRC Place-Based Impact Acceleration Account (2025–28) – £2.5M
• PI, Northern Accelerator CCF: MASER Communication (2024–25)
• PI, Royal Society International Exchanges (2021–25)