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I've recently joined Surrey from the University of Cambridge and I'm amazed at the headway I'm making. I've already met colleagues from different disciplines who are keen to collaborate. In my first three weeks I've submitted five proposals for funding. I'm getting lots of support and help with putting my budgets together.

I've been in touch with the undergraduates I'll be supervising and been taken aback by just how mature and knowledgeable they seem.

It is a competitive world so it's great to be in a university where the focus is on professionalism, integrity and collegiality - and where there's so much energy.

It's a lovely place to live too, close to London and main airports, perfect for networking with government, industry and academia at home and abroad.

It's been an exciting start to a journey with Surrey that I'm now sure will help me realise my potential and take me to places beyond even my own sky high expectations.

I've been at Surrey for a few years now and became Head of School back in the spring. Colleagues from elsewhere are amazed at the support we get, how quickly things happen. We're a lot more entrepreneurial, more dynamic than other institutions.

The quality of students here is high. They are interesting to work with and truly international. That brings a different perspective and opens doors for research. Even checking my email, there's always something new coming up, an invitation or an idea to pursue.

I wasn't sure if I could achieve everything I wanted in the UK, I thought I was going to have to move to the USA but Surrey has always given me the resources and space to do things, such as writing my book, time to think, research, developing MSc programmes and spending Fridays working from home! Surrey's given me opportunity after opportunity.

I've been here around eight months now and I'm already reaping the benefits of being in a University with a good cluster of disciplines. I'm working with people who are among the best in their field and are ready to apply what they are doing to my own projects. It's easy to make the connections when you can just run into people, spark off some ideas and work on a funding application over coffee.

A strength of Surrey is this mix of theoretical academics and those of us who are also practicing in industry. These strong links to industry bring so many benefits.

The support for academics is very positive; there's the potential for my work to have greater impact and influence. Basically it was an offer I couldn't refuse!

I arrived in 1995 and was immediately attracted by the fact that Surrey is an open university that allows you to reach your full potential, judging you only on what you do. If you work hard you are rewarded.

We are lucky to be the number one Electronic Engineering department in the country and our links with industry allow us to deliver work that is applicable and beneficial to humanity. I passionately believe in making a difference and at Surrey we do research to serve society, not just for the sake of it.

We have an approachable and inspirational VC and the short channels we have from the bottom to the top really do shape people's lives and careers. That continues to encourage myself, my colleagues and our students.

I'm still settling in and getting everything set up for my research but already I feel like I fit in well here. I'm based at the Advanced Technology Institute and I like that the work here is scientific research geared towards application. This certainly isn't the standard department.

Living here is already giving me a good balance between rural and town life and it's so close to London too. Employment's good around Surrey as well which is great for my wife, she's already got a job interview.

I've found like minded people here and that carries a promise of future success.

This is an incredibly ambitious and dynamic place and there's a lot of momentum, we're always publishing more, receiving more grants. There are a lot of young skilled people in the university and there is a good atmosphere, very positive.

I feel I have friends here and that's very important, at Surrey being happy is part of the success. I enjoy the best of both worlds living in a country village but close to the capital. I go running in beautiful countryside and every other day take time out to go climbing at the Surrey Sports Park. It's on campus and their climbing wall is state of the art.

My work is about bringing together and leading a team to advance my particular area of research. Here I can be a successful scientist, a successful group leader and I have incredible role models around me. Like Sir Martin Sweeting, in the 1970's he went up against two the biggest competitors in the world NASA and the Soviet Union, to build satellites. Now Surrey Satellite Technology Limited is the leader in its field and he did it, he did it here.