Dr Matthew Hobbs

School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Lecturer in Semiconductor Materials and Devices

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Y1 & 2 Tutor

m.hobbs@sheffield.ac.uk

Portobello Centre

Full contact details

Dr Matthew Hobbs
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Portobello Centre
1 Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 4ET

Profile: I received my MEng (hons) in Electronic Engineering from The University of Sheffield in 2009, and my PhD in Electronic Engineering from The University of Sheffield in 2014. My PhD involved the characterisation and application of various infrared photodetector technologies for use within non-contact temperature measurement instrumentation. After completing my PhD, I worked as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) associate with AMETEK Land in Dronfield in partnership with The University of Sheffield for three years.

In April 2016, I returned to The University of Sheffield to work as a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) within the Sensor Systems Research Group in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. My research involved the development and application of novel forms of single-pixel based measurement instruments for a variety of academic and industrial measurements applications. From March 2021, I split this role whilst also working as a Teaching Associate within the department.

In February 2023, I was appointed to the position of Lecturer in Semiconductor Materials and Devices. I am developing non-contact measurement instrumentation for a range of new applications, including novel instrumentation for use within a range of industrial and academic applciations. This includes developing instrumentation for use within the foundation industries, as well as enhancing the various research areas taking place elsewhere within the University.

In parallel, I am developing new forms of measurement instrumentation. This includes luminescence, fluorescence and phosphorescence measurement techniques, as well as highly sensitive optical instrumentation. I am also developing capabilities within printed electronic devices using Aerosol Jet Printing technology.

I welcome PhD applications in topics that fall under “Optical Sensing, Instrumentation, and Measurement”. I am especially keen to receive applications from candidates looking to develop, or apply, novel forms of instrumentation for non-contact temperature measurements and hyperspectral imaging. I am also keen to receive applications from candidates interested in developing novel forms of optical or electronic sensors using luminescent materials and nanoparticles. Examples of recent PhD projects include: High-Speed Infrared Radiation Thermometry; Luminescence Metrology and Quantum Sensing.

Qualifications

PhD in Electronic Engineering, The University of Sheffield, 2014
MEng (hons) in Electronic Engineering, The University of Sheffield, 2009

Research interests

Photonic and Optoelectronic Instrumentation, including:

Infrared Radiation Thermometry
Thermal Imaging
Fibre-Optic Measurement Instrumentation
Hyperspectral Imaging and Reflectance Metrology
Luminescence, Fluorescence and Phosphorescence Metrology
Aerosol Jet Printed Photonics and Electronics

Publications

Journal articles

Lai Y, Liu X, Davies M, Fisk C, Wang Y, Meng S, Yang H, Yang J, Hobbs M, Zhang Y & Willmott JR (2025) A Novel method for spectral and spatial Characterisation of flames using a Custom-Developed hyperspectral imaging system. Fuel, 393, 135057-135057.
Stuart MB, Davies M, Fisk C, Allen E, Sole AJ, Ing R, Hobbs MJ & Willmott JR (2024) Smartphone-based hyperspectral imaging for ice sheet and proglacial applications in South-West Greenland. Science of The Total Environment, 951, 175516-175516.
Farrimond DG, Woolford S, Barr AD, Lodge T, Tyas A, Waddoups R, Clarke SD, Rigby SE, Hobbs MJ, Willmott JR , Whittaker M et al (2024) Experimental studies of confined detonations of plasticized high explosives in inert and reactive atmospheres. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 480(2294). View this article in WRRO
Lee HJ, Ali Gamel MM, Ker PJ, Jamaludin MZ, Wong YH, Yap KS, Willmott JR, Hobbs MJ, David JPR & Tan CH (2023) Deriving the absorption coefficients of lattice mismatched InGaAs using genetic algorithm. Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 153, 107135-107135.
Davies M, Hobbs MJ, Nohl J, Davies B, Rodenburg C & Willmott JR (2022) Aerosol jet printing polymer dispersed liquid crystals on highly curved optical surfaces and edges. Scientific Reports, 12(1).
Stuart M, Davies M, Hobbs M, McGonigle A & Willmott J (2022) Peatland plant spectral response as a proxy for peat health, analysis using low-cost hyperspectral imaging techniques. Remote Sensing, 14(16).
Lai Y, Albadi A, Liu X, Davies M, Hobbs M, Willmott J & Zhang Y (2022) Investigation of forced flow orientations on the burning behaviours of wooden rods using a synchronised multi-imaging system. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute.
Stuart M, Davies M, Hobbs M, Pering T, McGonigle A & Willmott J (2022) High-resolution hyperspectral imaging using low-cost components: application within environmental monitoring scenarios. Sensors, 22(12). View this article in WRRO
Heeley A, Hobbs MJ & Willmott J (2020) Zero drift infrared radiation thermometer using chopper stabilised pre-amplifier. Applied Sciences, 10(14). View this article in WRRO
Stuart MB, Stanger LR, Hobbs MJ, Pering TD, Thio D, McGonigle AJS & Willmott JR (2020) Low-cost hyperspectral imaging system: Design and testing for laboratory-based environmental applications. Sensors, 20(11). View this article in WRRO
Zhu C, Hobbs M & Willmott JR (2019) An accurate instrument for emissivity measurements by direct and indirect methods. Measurement Science and Technology. View this article in WRRO
Zhu C, Hobbs MJ, Masters RC, Rodenburg C & Willmott JR (2019) An accurate device for apparent emissivity characterisation in controlled atmospheric conditions up to 1423 K. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. View this article in WRRO
Hobbs M & Willmott JR (2019) InGaAs APD thermometry. Measurement Science and Technology. View this article in WRRO
Zhu C, Hobbs M, Grainger M & Willmott J (2018) Design and realization of a wide field of view infrared scanning system with an integrated micro-electromechanical system mirror. Applied Optics, 57(36), 10449-10457. View this article in WRRO
Heeley AD, Hobbs MJ, Laalej H & Willmott J (2018) Miniature Uncooled and Unchopped Fiber Optic Infrared Thermometer for Application to Cutting Tool Temperature Measurement. Sensors, 18(10). View this article in WRRO
Hobbs M, Zhu C, Grainger M, Tan CH & Willmott J (2018) Quantitative traceable temperature measurement using novel thermal imaging camera. Optics Express, 26(19), 24904-24916. View this article in WRRO
Hobbs M, Grainger MP, Zhu C, Tan CH & Willmott J (2018) Quantitative thermal imaging using single-pixel Si APD and MEMS mirror. Optics Express, 26(3), 3188-3198. View this article in WRRO
Hobbs MJ, Tan CH, Zhou X, David JPR, Willmott JR, Plis E & Krishna S (2015) InAs/GaSb Type-II Superlattice for Radiation Thermometry. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 64(2), 502-508.
Xinxin Zhou , Hobbs MJ, White BS, David JPR, Willmott JR & Chee Hing Tan (2014) An InGaAlAs–InGaAs Two-Color Photodetector for Ratio Thermometry. IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, 61(3), 838-843. View this article in WRRO
Tan CH, Vines P, Hobbs M, Anderson B, Hugues M & David J (2011) Implementation of an algorithmic spectrometer using Quantum Dot Infrared Photodetectors. Infrared Physics & Technology, 54(3), 228-232.
Karapateas L, Lai Y, Meng X, Zhang Y, Willmott JR & Hobbs MJ () Si APD-Based High Speed Infrared Radiation Thermometry for Analysing the Temperature Instability of a Combustion Chamber. Sensors, 24(23), 7780-7780.
Leonidas E, Hobbs MJ, Ayvar-Soberanis S, Laalej H, Fisk C, Fitzpatrick S & Willmott JR () InAsSb Photodiode Fibre Optic Thermometry for High-Speed, near-Ambient Temperature Measurements. Sensors, 23(23), 9514-9514.
Holliday M, Lai Y, Hobbs M, Boone N, Al-Haji T, Scott I & Willmott J () Continuous measurement of ferrous sinter size distributions using an optical sensor system. Ironmaking & Steelmaking, 1-8.
Hobbs MJ, Barr A, Woolford S, Farrimond D, Clarke SD, Tyas A & Willmott JR () High-Speed Infrared Radiation Thermometer for the Investigation of Early Stage Explosive Development and Fireball Expansion. Sensors, 22(16), 6143-6143.
Davies M, Stuart MB, Hobbs MJ, McGonigle AJS & Willmott JR () Image Correction and In Situ Spectral Calibration for Low-Cost, Smartphone Hyperspectral Imaging. Remote Sensing, 14(5), 1152-1152.
Hobbs MJ, Tan CH & Willmott JR () Evaluation of phase sensitive detection method and Si avalanche photodiode for radiation thermometry. Journal of Instrumentation, 8(03), P03016-P03016.
Stuart MB, McGonigle AJS, Davies M, Hobbs MJ, Boone NA, Stanger LR, Zhu C, Pering TD & Willmott JR () Low-Cost Hyperspectral Imaging with A Smartphone. Journal of Imaging, 7(8), 136-136.

Conference proceedings papers

Leonidas E, Hobbs MJ, Ayvar-Soberanis S, Laalej H, Fisk C, Fitzpatrick S & Willmott JR (2024) Cutting-edge infrared thermometry: InAsSb photodiode fiber optic sensors for high-speed, near-ambient temperature monitoring. Infrared Sensors, Devices, and Applications XIV (pp 37-37), 18 August 2024 - 23 August 2024.
Davies M, Hobbs MJ, Nohl J, Davies B, Rodenburg C & Willmott JR (2024) Aerosol jet printed ionic liquid-doped polymer dispersed liquid crystal devices in optical systems. Liquid Crystals XXVIII (pp 57-57), 18 August 2024 - 23 August 2024.
Hobbs MJ, Willmott JR, Droegmoeller P, David J & Tan C (2015) 3.3 - Type-II Superlattice Radiation Thermometer. Proceedings IRS² 2015, 19 May 2015 - 21 May 2015.
Hobbs MJ, Bastiman F, Tan CH, David JPR, Krishna S & Plis E (2013) Uncooled MWIR InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice grown on a GaAs substrate. Emerging Technologies in Security and Defence; and Quantum Security II; and Unmanned Sensor Systems X
Hobbs MJ, Das SD, Tan CH, David JPR, Krishna S, Rodriguez JB & Plis E (2011) High detectivity MWIR type-II superlattice grown on a GaAs substrate. IEEE Photonic Society 24th Annual Meeting, PHO 2011 (pp 31-32)
Hobbs MJ, Das SD, Tan CH, David JPR, Krishna S, Rodriguez JB & Plis E (2011) High detectivity MWIR Type-II superlattice grown on a GaAs substrate. IEEE Photonic Society 24th Annual Meeting, 9 October 2011 - 13 October 2011.
Tyas A, Farrimond D, Woolford S, Barr A, Lodge T, Waddoups R, Clarke S, Rigby S, Hobbs M, Willmott J & Whittaker M () Experimental and numerical studies of confined blast from detonation of plasticised high explosives in reactive and non-reactive atmospheres. Proceedings of The 19th International Symposium for the Interaction of Munitions with Structures. Interaction of the Effects of Munitions with Structures (ISIEMS 19). Bonn, Germany, 9 December 2024 - 9 December 2024.

Preprints

Albadi A, Lai Y, Fisk C, Hobbs M, Davies M, Willmott J & Zhang Y (2024) Exploring the impact of thermal and surface characteristics of burning wood on water droplet evaporation, Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
DAVIES M, HOBBS MJ, NOHL J, DAVIES B, RODENBURG C & WILLMOTT JR () Aerosol jet printing polymer dispersed liquid crystals on highly curved optical surfaces and edges, Research Square Platform LLC.

Research group: Circuits and Systems.

Grants

Dates	Sponsor	Grant Title	PI/CO
March 2023 to May 2023	Game Changers	Single-Pixel Salt Concentration Mapping	PI
July 2022 to December 2023	TFI Network+	Accurate Emissivity Characterisation of Metals from Near Infrared (NIR) to Long Wave Infrared (LWIR)	PI

Teaching activities

EEE117 - Electrical circuits and networks
EEE123 - Introduction to electric and electronic circuits
EEE126 - General Skills

Professional activities and memberships

Member of IET