Jeffrey N. Philippson was born and raised in Manchester, living there until the age of 20. Between April 2000 and April 2004 he split his time between Brighton, East Sussex and Amsterdam in the Netherlands, obtaining an M.Phys. undergraduate degree in Physics with Astrophysics from the University of Sussex and developing skills as a hair-stylist respectively.

His early academic interests were primarily on the astrophysics side, however this evolved during his studies leading to an undergraduate thesis in atomic and molecular physics, and the subsequent receipt of a Marie Curie Fellowship from the European Commission to work in the experimental Atomic, Molecular and Laser Physics group at the VU University, Amsterdam.

In 2005 he moved to Canada to begin graduate studies in Experimental Physics at Queen's University in Canada. During 6 years in Canada, Jeffrey formed many close friendships, integrated into the North American chemical and AMO physics communities through attendance and presentations at numerous conferences, and perhaps picked up a touch of the accent.

Working in the Trent Optical Physics Group, he initially undertook a masters degree focused on development of optoelectronic instrumentation. Subsequently a doctorate in experimental atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) physics focused on the creation and manipulation of exotic molecular states in lithium.

Having defended his doctoral thesis in January 2012, Jeffrey returned to the UK determined to apply the broad range of skills he had acquired in an academic context to the solution of real-world problems. In May 2012 he began a career as a technology consultant, with the PA Consulting Group, applying his skills in measurements and data analysis to the development of medical devices.

In 2013, having recently returned from his first overseas assignment, Jeffrey met the wonderful Uruguaya who was to become his wife, herself a talented scientist and a post-doctoral fellow in molecular parasitology.

Jeffrey is a keen squash player, an experienced juggler, and has been a DJ since the late 90s.