Pembroke alumnus Mark Thomson appointed as CERN’s next Director-General

We are pleased to share that Pembroke alumnus Professor Mark Thomson (Physics, 1985) has been selected as the next Director-General for The European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN, starting in the new year. 

Following his degree in physics (1988) and doctorate in particle physics (1992) at the University of Oxford and his time at University College London as a Research Fellow, Mark spent six years at CERN where he made precision measurements of the W and Z bosons. In 2018, he served as the UK delegate to CERN’s Council.

Serving as the Executive Chair of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) in the UK and Professor of Experimental Particle Physics at the University of Cambridge, Mark has held national and international research leadership positions and several research advisory roles in the UK and abroad. His main place of work is Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, just down the road from Oxford. In 2013, Mark published “Modern Particle Physics”, a textbook used in universities around the world. 

His talent as a physicist and his leadership qualities were recognized by Mark’s fellow Pembrokians who nominated him as one of Pembroke’s 400 characters earlier this year for College’s 400th anniversary celebrations. Mark was also selected to have his portrait hung in our Dining Hall this year alongside other alumni recognised for their remarkable achievements. 

“I am honoured to become CERN’s Director-General and am committed to pursuing the Organization’s scientific mission, further developing technologies that will benefit society as a whole, while uniting nations in a shared commitment to advancing science for the betterment of humanity,” shares Mark. 

We extend our warm congratulations to him for his appointment.