John Ellis is a world-renowned theoretical physicist and Clerk Maxwell Professor of Theoretical Physics at King's College London, where he continues to shape the field of particle physics. Born on July 1, 1946, he completed his secondary education at Highgate School before attending King's College, Cambridge from 1964, where he earned his PhD in theoretical particle physics in 1971. His early career included a visiting student position at CERN during 1970-1971, followed by post-doctoral positions at SLAC and Caltech. Ellis joined CERN in 1973 as a research fellow, becoming a staff member in 1974 and serving there until reaching the fixed retirement age of 65. He has maintained his position at King's College London since 2010 while continuing to work at CERN as a visiting scientist.
Professor Ellis has made numerous groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics, most notably coining the term 'theory of everything' and coauthoring the first paper on Higgs boson detection in 1976. His pioneering work in particle astrophysics established critical connections between particle physics and cosmology, creating an entirely new interdisciplinary field. As one of the most-cited theoretical physicists globally, he has authored nearly a thousand scientific papers with some exceeding fifty thousand citations, particularly in the areas of supersymmetry and physics beyond the Standard Model. His research has been instrumental in guiding experimental efforts at major particle accelerators worldwide, with his theoretical frameworks forming the foundation for numerous experimental searches at CERN's LEP and LHC facilities. Ellis became a leading advocate of supersymmetry in the 1980s, proposing a compelling extension to the Standard Model of particle physics.
Beyond his research achievements, Ellis has provided exceptional leadership in the global physics community through multiple influential roles including twice serving as Deputy Division Leader and six years as Division Leader of CERN's Theory Division from 1988 to 1994. He has been a tireless advocate for global participation in particle physics, working to involve non-European nations in CERN activities and promoting international scientific collaboration. His current research focuses on understanding the implications of the Higgs boson discovery for new physics, including connections to dark matter and potential extensions to the Standard Model. Professor Ellis continues to shape the future of particle physics through his involvement in studies of next-generation accelerators such as the Compact Linear Collider and future circular colliders. He remains dedicated to science communication and advancing equal opportunities in physics, having served as the first chair of CERN's Equal Opportunities Advisory Panel.
