About
Mode brings together more than 15 years of research at the University of Oxford with the commercial and engineering expertise needed to turn breakthrough sensing technology into practical, real-world systems.
Our focus goes beyond the measurement, to how it is delivered in the real world. By combining deep technical expertise with a clear understanding of deployment, Mode builds sensing technology designed to work reliably where it matters most.
Leadership
Bringing together scientific, engineering and commercial experience with a shared focus on taking advanced sensing technology from research through to deployment.
Dean James
CEO
A skilled leader and expert physical chemist, Dean has spent the past decade developing innovative cavity-enhanced sensing technologies. He’s dedicated to advancing chemical sensing through optical microcavities, combining scientific expertise with commercial insight.
Daniel Miles-Barrett
CTO
With an extensive background in industrial systems design, Daniel brings expertise in microfluidics, optics, and analytical chemistry. He has worked across both environmental monitoring and biopharmaceutical sectors and was responsible for developing our prototype sensors.
Piers Clark
Non-executive Chair
Founder and Executive Chair of Isle Utilities, a consultancy focused on water innovation. Piers has a wealth of experience, having previously served as Commercial Director at Thames Water and Managing Director of Blackstone's Global Water Development platform.
Prof. Claire Vallance
Technical Director
Based at the University of Oxford, Claire is an expert in laser and cavity-based spectroscopies, as well as instrumentation design and data analysis. Her team delivers cutting-edge research in the fields of chemical dynamics and physical chemistry.
Prof. Jason Smith
Academic Founder
With 25 years of experience in photonic devices, Jason leads a pioneering research group at the University of Oxford. His team focuses on open microcavities and is at the forefront of developing new technologies and applications in the field.
Matt Myers
Investor Director
Matt is an investor at Oxford Science Enterprises. He is a Chartered Engineer (MIET) with an MBA, MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge, and MSc and BSc degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town.
Kate Carruthers
Head of People & Operations
With over 20 years’ experience in operations, HR, and leadership, Kate supports early-stage businesses by developing systems, improving processes, and fostering positive culture—helping startups and spin-outs build strong foundations and scale sustainably.
Paul Tooke
CFO
Paul is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience at PwC, Credit Suisse and UBS. He now works with early-stage businesses and SMEs, supporting financial planning, reporting and decision-making, and ensuring robust systems for growth.
Amelia Griffiths
Board Observer
Amelia works at Oxford University Innovation, specialising in research commercialisation, new ventures and portfolio management. Her previous roles include Executive Director at a venture capital advisory firm and running Tech Track 100 for The Sunday Times
Mode is proud to be recognised through industry awards and supported by investors and partners who share our ambition to make high-quality chemical monitoring more practical, scalable and widely accessible.
Careers
We’re building a team around science, engineering and real-world impact. Explore current opportunities to help shape the next stage of Mode’s growth.
