Professor Andrew Cheetham

Professor Andrew Cheetham

Biography

After obtaining his PhD in plasma physics at the Flinders University of South Australia, Professor Cheetham spent fifteen years working in the field of plasma diagnostic systems in nuclear fusion energy research laboratories, including the Institute for Plasma Research, University of Stuttgart (Germany), the Centre for Research in Plasma Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland), the Plasma Research Laboratory, ANU (Australia) and ultimately as a Principal Scientific Officer at the Euratom nuclear fusion project, the Joint European Torus (JET), UK.
In 1990 he returned to Australia and joined the then School of Electronics Engineering and Applied Physics at the University of Canberra where he has taught physics, electronics, power systems, signal processing, computer controlled instrumentation and automatic control systems.
At the University of Canberra Professor Cheetham established a small Plasma Technology research laboratory. He went on to be Head of the School of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering, Deputy Director of the Division of Business and Information Sciences and finally PVC - Research and Information Management. He is currently Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Western Sydney since 2007.

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Areas of Expertise

Research

Plasma Physics, Plasma Sources, Plasma Diagnostic Techniques, Nuclear Fusion Energy, Computer Controlled Instrumentation

Teaching

Physics, electronics, signal processing, instrumentation, electromagnetics.
The use of technology in Science and Engineering education.
In collaboration with John Rayner, Professor Cheetham developed a Computer Aided Learning course in elementary quantum physics for engineering students - Understanding the Unobservable. This course is still in use in some Australian Universities. The work was funded by a CAUT grant in 1994.

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Awards and Recognition

Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics
Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia
Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

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Publications

Professor Cheetham has published over 60 refereed papers and presented over 90 conference papers in the fields of: plasma and fusion physics, computer controlled instrumentation, the use of IT in science and engineering education and on leadership in research in ICT.

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Professional Activities

Professor Cheetham is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and sits on the Boards of:
The Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute
The Australian Technology Fund Pty Ltd

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