This Michaelmas we are delighted to have lots of new academics are joining us at Somerville, including new fellows in Physics and Engineering.
We asked these fellows to introduce themselves to the wider community, alongside our new Treasurer, Katherine Gardiner, who joins our Governing Body as an Administrative Fellow.
Curt von Keyserlingk Tutorial Fellow; Associate Professor of Theoretical Physics
Curt von Keyserlingk
I’m an Associate Professor of Theoretical Physics, joining from King’s College London, where I was a Reader in Theoretical Physics. Before King’s, I held positions at the University of Birmingham.
My research is broadly concerned with what happens when large numbers of quantum-mechanical particles interact with one another. Although the underlying laws of quantum mechanics are well understood, bringing many particles together can produce remarkably rich and unexpected behaviour. I’m particularly interested in how quantum systems evolve in time, how information is stored and transported within them, and in unusual states of matter whose properties are determined by quantum mechanics. A recurring theme in my work is understanding when the behaviour of a complicated quantum system is genuinely quantum, and when it begins to look more like the familiar classical world around us.
I completed my DPhil in Theoretical Physics at Oxford under the supervision of Prof. Steve Simon, having previously studied mathematics at the University of Cambridge. I then spent three years as a Fellow at the Princeton Center for Theoretical Science before returning to the UK. Outside of physics, I spend much of my time rock climbing and hiking in miserable conditions.
I’m thrilled to return to Oxford, and especially to join such a strong group of theoretical physicists.
Robert Baines Fellow & Tutor in Engineering; Associate Professor of Engineering Science
Robert Baines
I’m an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Science, and a tutorial fellow of engineering at Somerville. My research strives to build robots that adapt their bodies and “brains” on demand to better suit the task at hand. In doing so, I draw from an eclectic pallet: robot design, control, and materials. The goal is to realize machines that change shape, adapt how they move, and interact with challenging environments. Alongside fundamental research, I like building robots that can eventually operate in the real world, with potential applications ranging from ecological monitoring and industrial inspection and maintenance to space exploration.
I studied Mechanical Engineering at Rice University, receiving my BS in 2017, before moving to Yale University for my MS (2019) and PhD (2023) in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. My doctoral research focused on applying shape-morphing materials to robots. I then spent three years as a postdoctoral fellow at ETH Zurich, where I investigated how robot shape, sensing, and control harmonize to enable dynamic skills such as climbing and traversing challenging terrain.
Outside of research and teaching, I’m an avid runner, composer of music, and hiker. I’m excited to now be a part of the Somerville community and look forward to meeting everyone in due course.
Katherine Gardiner – Treasurer
Katherine Gardiner
Katherine joined Somerville in October 2026. As Treasurer (Finance and Estates Bursar), she has overall responsibility for the College’s finance, estate, domestic operations and HR, support the teams delivering these core operational services in support of Governing Body’s objectives.
Prior to joining Somerville, Katherine worked for the University of Oxford, most recently as Director of Finance Operations in the central Finance Division. Katherine is a fellow of the Institution of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), and was an undergraduate at Merton College, Oxford.