Phil Harper grew up on a farm in Kilkenny, Ireland before going to the University of Sheffield to complete an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Tribology and Ultrasonics. After leaving the university in 2006 he set up his own company, Tribosonics Ltd (see www.tribosonics.com) to commercially exploit his research at the university. The company start-up was enabled through Phil winning the inaugural £40,000 ERA Foundation award from the Royal Academy of Engineering in June 2006.

Phil has published 10 papers and won the 2006 Tribology Trust Bronze medal from the IMechE and the 2007 Sir Henry Royce Award from the IET.