John Mavor was a pioneer in the design of MOS transistors and Charge-Coupled Devices (CCDs) for signal processing.
Mavor’s most active research was in MOS transistors and Charge-Coupled Devices (CCDs) for signal processing, in conjunction with a number of research students, notably: Don MacLennan, Neil Weste, Peter Denyer, Colin Cowan, Colin Carruthers and Neil Petrie.
In 1980 he initiated collaborative research with Philips Components Ltd. (Mullard), Southampton, on MOS/CCD signal processing for infrared sensors.
His research cooperation led to the International Charge-Coupled Devices Conference Series, co-organised by Isaac Lagnado of NOSC, San Diego and Dennis D. Buss of Texas Instruments.
He developed each of the campuses: at Craighouse with a new teaching building; at Craiglockhart with a new Business School lecture theatre; and at Merchiston a 500-seat student computing facility.