He is described as "one of the UK’s most influential scientists and leaders of scientific policy" by his peers.[4]
Academic career
Knight's work is concerned principally with theoretical quantum optics, strong field physics and especially quantum information science. He was educated at Bedford Modern School.[5]
When Knight began his University education he attended Sussex University to read chemistry, but soon realised physics interested him more.[6] He received his first degree and D.Phil. from Sussex University and became research associate at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Rochester and at the Physics Department and SLAC, Stanford University (US). He spent three years doing post-doctoral research in the US in the group of Joseph Eberly which gave him experience of working with "incredibly gifted people".[6] He was then SRC research fellow at Sussex University, and later visiting scientist at the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, US.[3]
He became Jubilee Research Fellow from 1976 to 1978 at Royal Holloway, University of London, followed by an SERC Advanced Fellowship from 1978 to 1983, first at RHC from 1978 to 1979, transferring in 1979 to Imperial College. He has remained at Imperial College ever since (apart from very frequent visits to the US), first as a lecturer 1983–1987, then reader 1987–1988 and professor since 1988. In addition, until 2010 he acted as deputy rector of Imperial College, having responsibility for the college's research.[3]
In his capacity as a leading figure in quantum optics, Knight works on several advisory boards, including the UK Quantum Technology Initiative Strategy Advisory Board, the Photonics EPSRC Innovative Manufacturing Centre, the Winton Programme for the Physics of Sustainability in Cambridge and for several year was Chair of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council at the Ministry of Defence.[7]
Knight has also spoken publicly about science funding in the UK, and cautioned against cuts or pauses in funding and its effect on the British economy[6][8] and regularly advocates for girls in STEM subjects and women in science.[9][10]
Knight is described by the Royal Society as "an influential figure within the wider UK physics community"[11] and by Miles J. Padgett of the University of Glasgow as "one of the UK’s most influential scientists and leaders of scientific policy."[4]
Senior positions
Knight is Emeritus Professor in the department of physics at Imperial College London.[3] From 1 October 2010, he was the principal and is now Senior Fellow in Residence of the Kavli Royal Society International Centre at Chicheley Hall. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Louvain-la-Neuve, a Humboldt Research Award holder at the University of Konstanz and a visiting scholar at the University of Texas at Austin and at the University of Rochester.[3]
Knight was president of the Institute of Physics from 2011 to 2013; president in 2004 of Optica, the first non North American-based person to take the position;[13] and a fellow of the Royal Society. In addition he was a member of the council of the Royal Society. He has a seat on the European advisory board of Princeton University Press.[14] He was elected an honorary fellow of the Institute of Physics in recognition of his "major contributions to physics through his pre-eminent research, his influential leadership roles and his service to the Institute of Physics".[13]
Knight was Chief Scientific Advisor until his retirement to the National Physical Laboratory and is Chair of NPL's Quantum Metrology Institute. He continues to act as an advisor to the British government.[13]
In 2019 he received the Herbert Walther Award for his outstanding contribution to quantum information science.[19]
Also in 2019 Knight received the highest accolade from the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Faraday Medal for his 'outstanding contribution in the field of quantum engineering',[20] acknowledging that 'His pivotal role in conceiving, designing and delivering the National Quantum Technologies Programme has put the UK quantum science and engineering at the front of the global race to establish the second information revolution.'[20][21]
He was named an Optica Honorary Member in 2024.[22]
Notable publications
Knight is the author of several books and hundreds of academic papers.[23] He is an ISI Highly Cited author.[3] Publications include,
^"School of the Black and Red-A History of Bedford Modern School" by Andrew Underwood (1981); reset and updated by Peter Boon, Paul Middleton and Richard Wildman (2010).
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