Duncan's research is focused on applications of high power lasers in manufacturing and in medicine. He is Director of the £5.6M 5-University Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Laser-based Production Processes, and PI of an EPSRC grant (joint with the University of Bath) on novel fibre optics for delivery of high peak power laser light.  Furthermore, he is PI of the recently-awarded £1.3M EPSRC Platform Grant on Manufacturing of Medical Devices, and is the Heriot-Watt PI of a recently awarded EU grant on laser-based manufacturing of functional surfaces.  He is also involved in ERC-funded work on laser-based manufacture of micro-fluidic devices to simulate porous media for application in Carbon Capture and Storage; and is co-Investigator of an EPSRC grant to develop minimally-invasive laser-based surgery for treatment of early stage colon cancer.

Current industrial collaborators include Renishaw, Leonardo, Oxford Lasers, Coherent Scotland, SPI Lasers, Litron Lasers, AWE, Powerphotonic, and Edinburgh Molecular Imaging.

Duncan graduated from the University of St Andrews in 1986 with a BSc in Physics with Electronics, and from the University of Southampton (Optical Fibre Group) in 1991 with a PhD.  In 1991 he moved to Heriot-Watt University, initially employed as a Research Associate. In 1997 he was appointed Lecturer in Physics and subsequently promoted to Reader (2001) and Professor of Applied Photonics (2003).  He has held a rnage of additional appointments, as Director of the Photonics EngD Centre (2001 - 2007); Director of Postgraduate Research (2001 - 2007); Head of Physics (2007 - 2011); Acting Head of School (2011); Director of Research (2012 - 2015); Acting Deputy Principal (Pro-VC) Research (2015-2016); Deputy Head of School (2012 onwards).

Duncan is currently Deouty Head of School of Engineering and Physical Sciences and Director of the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Laser-based Production Processes.