Peter was obsessed with all things mechanical from an early age. Born just outside London, UK, he was inspired by his grandfather – who himself as a young man had acquired the prototype for George Stephenson’s Rocket steam locomotive (c.1815), and displayed it at home – to pursue an engineering career. After winning a scholarship to study engineering at Cambridge University, he switched directions, following his other dream to become a musician, performing and recording across the UK and Europe, before entering academia, studying for his DPhil at Oxford University. In 2005 he was appointed to the faculty at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, and since then has enjoyed the vibrant cultural life of Cleveland and the atmosphere of innovation on campus.