Professor Martin McCoustra

Martin McCoustra is ScotCHEM Professor of Chemical Physics in the Institute of Chemical Sciences at Heriot-Watt University. His research interests focus on aspects of the surface physics and chemistry of complex systems including the astrophysical gas-grain interaction and plasma modification and erosion of polymers. His work focuses on the application of infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermal desorption mass spectrometry to characterise processes at complex surfaces. He one of a select group of surface scientists involved in the IceAge project currently using the James Webb Space Telescope to explore icy grain formation in different astrophysical environments.