Alistair completed his PhD at Durham University in 2017 in atomic and optical physics, before moving into healthcare photonics and biomedical imaging systems as a postdoctoral researcher, first at Durham University and then at St Andrews University. He has worked closely with spin-outs and start-ups for the last five years, developing new biomedical imaging techniques and patented dental imaging technologies. He moved into healthcare photonics, and towards industry-partnered research, out of a desire for more impact-focused research to improve quality of life.