Meet the Team at IS-Instruments
IS-Instruments was founded in 2010 by Dr Michael Foster and Dr Jonathan Storey, with Nicholas Bantin joining the team shortly afterwards. Over the years, the company has grown into a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers and technical specialists with extensive expertise in Raman spectroscopy, spectrometers, laser-based instrumentation, remote sensing technologies and advanced optical systems.
Today, IS-Instruments is recognised for developing innovative analytical instrumentation for applications across the pharmaceutical, nuclear, environmental, industrial and research sectors. In addition to supplying high-performance Raman spectrometers, gas analysis systems and spectroscopy solutions, the team has the knowledge and experience to design bespoke instrumentation tailored to complex measurement challenges.
Combining scientific expertise with practical engineering, IS-Instruments continues to push the boundaries of spectroscopic analysis and optical sensing technologies. Meet the scientists, engineers and spectroscopy specialists behind IS-Instruments’ Raman spectrometers, laser-based instrumentation and optical sensing technologies.
Dr Michael Foster
Co-Founder & Director
Dr Michael Foster completed his PhD in 1999, studying cometary atmospheres. However, his passion for instrumentation soon led him into the field of LIDAR and remote sensing, where he has worked ever since.
Over the past two decades, Mike has played a pivotal role in numerous space and Earth observation projects. These include the EarthCARE, ADM-Aeolus and ASCOPE missions. Additionally, he was part of the team that developed the landing model used during the Rosetta mission.
Michael works with a number of research groups from UCL, Imperial College London, the University of Leicester, the Open University, and the University of Southampton and continues to form and invite collaborations.
Today, Mike is recognised as one of the UK’s leading experts in Fabry-Perot systems, LIDAR instrumentation and optical filtering technologies.
Dr Jonathan Storey
Co-Founder & Director
After completing a degree in Physics and a PhD in Space Plasma Physics at the University of Leicester, Jon moved into the field of optical instrumentation and spectrometer development.
Since then, he has been responsible for designing and building every element of optical and laser-based instruments for a variety of applications. These have ranged from the highest-specification optical filters and 3D landing LIDARs for the European Space Agency to a gas contaminant sensor for British Gas.
His wide range of skills means he is involved from the initial design of a system. Specifically, this involves the optical, mechanical and software elements, through assembly and testing prior to delivery.
Nicholas Bantin
Director
Nicholas Bantin is a former investment banker who worked in the City of London for more than 30 years with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Bank of America. Nicholas has vast experience in corporate finance and lending before moving in 1990 to manage CIBC’s proprietary portfolios. While running the portfolios, Nicholas developed a liquidity fund to protect the Bank against catastrophic events such as those witnessed in 2007-8. After the Quebec Referendum in 1995, he moved to Bank of America to run the London proprietary portfolios.
Nicholas retired from the City in 2001 and decided to work with small technology companies to help them achieve their ambitions. Given the lack of support from banks for growing SMEs, Nicholas is developing new funding structures to help SMEs manage their funding gaps.
Outside of work, Nicholas enjoys politics (especially debating it over a pint!), watching the rugby and entertaining his grandson.
Dr Will Brooks
Senior Scientist
Dr Will Brooks has a background in chemistry and electronic materials, receiving his B.Sc (Hons) in Chemistry from the University of Wales, Bangor. Subsequently, Will obtained a PhD in Electronic Engineering from Bangor University, studying spatially resolved performance characteristics of thin-film CdTe photovoltaic solar cells. Following this, he took up a postdoctoral position at the Centre for Solar Energy Research at Glyndwr University. Here, he worked as a Research Assistant on a Welsh Government Academic Expertise for Business (A4B) Collaborative Industrial Research Project (CIRP).
Since joining IS-Instruments in 2016 as a Senior Scientist, Will has led the development of Raman spectrometers, optical probes, and spectroscopy systems for industrial, pharmaceutical, and nuclear applications. His responsibilities include research and development of Raman spectrometers and optical probe systems, as well as system assembly and testing. He is heavily involved in multiple large-scale and significant projects. These include stand-off Raman applications for Nuclear Decommissioning and Raman-based process monitoring in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. He has also worked to develop a gas-phase Raman instrument using innovative hollow-core fibre guides. Throughout his role, Will uses technological innovation to take ideas from concept through the technology readiness levels to final product.
Jessica Gabb MCHEM
Business Manager
Jessica Gabb joined IS-Instruments in 2021 as Business Manager and Project Manager. She supports the company’s growth, manages collaborative R&D projects, and helps raise IS-Instruments’ profile within the spectroscopy, pharmaceutical, and nuclear sectors. Additionally, Jessica is our Health & Safety Officer and oversees our ISO 9001 certification.
Jessica has a background in Chemistry and Nuclear power, receiving her MChem (Hons) in Chemistry from Cardiff University in 2015. She then entered a graduate scheme in the nuclear power sector, working on the lifetime of the existing fleet. Jessica also worked on the chemical designs of nuclear new-build before moving into business development and account management.
Charles Warren
Software Developer
Charles joined IS-Instruments in 2018 as a Research Scientist specialising in Raman spectroscopy, software development and optical system design. His responsibilities include mathematical modelling, optical system design and hardware development. Additionally, he is involved in developing spectroscopic and data-analysis software. Charles has enjoyed working on a wide range of projects, from the Nuclear industry to the Biopharmaceutical sector.
Charles completed a Master’s Degree in Physics at the University of Exeter in 2014. His particular area of research was Raman spectroscopy of graphene, a revolutionary new material with potential applications in a wide range of industries and technologies. During his work on graphene, he gained experience in cleanroom protocols and optical lithography. After his degree, Charles went on to complete a PGCE at the University of Exeter and achieve a teaching scholarship from the Institute of Physics. He spent some time as a science teacher specialising in physics before returning to research and development.
Sarah Marsh-Collings
Information Dissemination Officer
Sarah Marsh-Collings joined IS-Instruments in 2019 to raise the company’s profile and communicate the impact of its research and development activities.
With a BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences from the Open University and a career spanning marketing, communications and content strategy, Sarah bridges the gap between complex science and commercial understanding. She works closely with the technical team to translate advanced Raman spectroscopy, gas analysis and laser-based instrumentation projects into engaging content for customers, partners and stakeholders.
Her responsibilities include website content, technical articles, case studies, social media, exhibitions, PR and marketing strategy. As a result, she helps ensure that IS-Instruments’ innovations are highlighted to and understood by the industries that can benefit most from them.
By making complex technologies accessible, Sarah supports the commercial adoption of new spectroscopy solutions and helps amplify their real-world impact.
Alex Poppe MPHYS
Software Engineer
Alex Poppe graduated from the University of Kent in 2019 with an Integrated Master’s (1st Class Hons) in Physics. His PhD focused on applied machine learning and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), combining advanced data analysis techniques with optical measurement science.
During his PhD, Alex collaborated on projects with researchers at the University of Kent and the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. In the latter case, his work in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) furthered understanding of light-induced interactions between individual molecules and metallic surfaces, facilitating improvements to industrial catalysts. These are crucial components in pharmaceutics and other chemical industries. Alex is applying his machine learning skills to help us solve our clients’ challenges in novel ways.
Dr Rhea Sam
Senior Scientist
Dr Rhea Sam joined ISI in 2023, having gained an MSc in Photonics from the Cochin University of Science and Technology. Subsequently, she completed her PhD in Applied Physics from Osaka University. While completing her doctorate, she was involved in the development of optical instrumentation for tip-enhanced ultra-low-frequency Raman microscopes. She also worked on the synthesis and characterisation of 2D nanomaterials.
At IS-Instruments, Rhea focuses on the development of Raman spectrometers, gas Raman systems and patented hollow-core fibre technologies. Additionally, she works on sample and data analysis.
Dr Marion Lehuraux
Scientist
Marion joined IS-Instruments in February 2026 as a Scientist, bringing extensive experience in experimental particle physics and detector development. She holds a PhD from Université Paris-Saclay, where her research focused on the application of compact Time Projection Chambers for muon tomography. Subsequently, she used this technique to image the internal structures of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Following her PhD, Marion completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Warwick. Here, she focused on physics data analysis and the development of a new subdetector for the LHCb experiment upgrade using fast photodetectors. Marion’s technical strength lies in her dual proficiency in data analysis and instrumentation hardware. These skills allow her to bridge the gap between theoretical modelling and physical system integration. She applies her expertise in instrumentation, detector development and data analysis to the development of advanced spectroscopy systems at IS-Instruments.
Dr Yang Qian
Scientist
Yang joined IS-Instruments in February 2026 as a specialist in the development and optimisation of laser-based optical systems. He gained his PhD from the University of Glasgow, where his research focused on optical system design and life-science applications. During this time, he developed a custom free-space optical platform. This combined semiconductor laser technology with reflected-light microscopy, enabling the precision micromanipulation of microspheres and living cells.
Yang later joined Imperial College London as a Research Associate, contributing to a pioneering project investigating the biophysical mechanisms of hearing in rodents. He designed and developed a highly specialised optical platform integrating laser-scanning confocal microscopy, epi-fluorescence microscopy, light stimulation, and interferometry to study mechano-electrical transduction in auditory hair cells. Subsequently, he found a role with a pioneering company and continuing world leader in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) instruments used for advanced materials characterisation. Here, he developed and optimised laser-based optical systems for MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry instruments. His work included optical modelling, feasibility studies, and experimental testing across both prototype and commercial systems.
Outside work, Yang enjoys hiking, cooking, running and badminton. He also enjoys exploring historical landmarks and heritage sites.
