Des Gibson obtained his BSc (1st class honours - 1979) and PhD (1983) in Physics at the Queen University of Belfast, N Ireland. His PhD studies were carried out in thin film optics. He has a thirty year track record in industrial, academic based research & development and successful physics based product commercialisation, gained globally with technical and managing director roles within blue chip organizations, small to medium sized companies and start-ups.
He has founded or co-founded a succession of physics based technology companies and remains a director of two companies; Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd ( www.gassensing.co.uk ), co-founded 2006 and a recent winner of an Institute of Physics Innovation Award 2014 and also Thin Film Solutions Ltd (www.thinfs.com ), co-founded 2002. He also carries out ongoing technical consultancy for a number of global thin film companies including Applied Multilayers Ltd ( www.applied-multilayers.com ) a company he co-founded 2002 and acquired by Telemark Inc 2010.
He is a chartered engineer and physicist (CEng & CPhys), Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP), a named inventor on thirteen patents, has over eighty technical publication and articles in thin films, sensors and optoelectronics. August 2014 he joined the University of the West of Scotland as professor in thin film and sensor technologies and director of the Institute of Thin Films, Sensors & Imaging. He maintains strong links with industry through directorships and consultancy.