Department of Materials announces 2022 PhD prize winners
The 2022 postgraduate research prizes have been announced in the Department of Materials.
Felicity Worsnop (nee Dear): McLean Medal
Dr Worsnop said "I'm very grateful to receive this medal, which serves as recognition of many people's efforts alongside my own. Metallurgy has plenty of challenges and open questions still to solve, and I feel lucky to have spent my PhD working with Profs. David Dye and David Rugg.
They were both immensely supportive throughout my PhD, and steered me towards incisive questions that were great fun to work on. Thank you also to everyone in the Dye group, across the Department and at Rolls-Royce for enabling me to work on some challenging topics with cutting-edge techniques. I've learned a lot from my time at Imperial and am excited for what's next!"
Dr Worsnop's thesis title is α2, oxygen and the micromechanics of α-titanium.
Chen Liu: Matthey Prize
Dr Chen Liu has been awarded the Matthey Prize. This is an annual award to an Associate of the Royal School of Mines for research completed in the Department of Materials.
Dr Liu said "It is my extreme honour to be awarded the Matthey prize. I would like to express my greatest gratitude to my supervisor Dr Minh-Son Pham, who has provided excellent mentoring, inspiration and invaluable support during my study.
The working experience with a group of talented and enthusiastic colleagues at Imperial is so fantastic, which helps develop my abilities and makes me more confident to tackle challenges in the future. Also, I want to thank my families and friends for their boundless and unconditional support and encouragement."
Dr Liu's thesis is titled: Novel crystal-inspired architected materials design guided by metallurgical hardening mechanisms.
Alexis Belessiotis-Richards: Matthey Prize
Dr Alexis Belessiotis-Richards has been awarded the Matthey Prize. This is an annual award to an Associate of the Royal School of Mines for research completed in the Department of Materials.
Dr Belessiotis-Richards said: “I’m very grateful to have won the Matthey Prize and would like to thank my supervisor Professor Molly Stevens for nominating me for this award and supporting me throughout the PhD.
Molly and the Stevens group as a whole have created an amazing environment to do research in and I feel very lucky to have spent almost 5 years there. I’d also like to thank the CDT in Advanced Characterisation of Materials for funding my PhD and allowing me to meet another group of amazing people in my cohort."
Dr Belessiotis-Richards thesis is titled: Modelling & Characterising the Bio-Nano Interface.
Zachary Goodwin: The TYC@Imperial prize
Dr Zachary Goodwin has been awarded the TYC@Imperial prize. This is an annual award to a student who has demonstrated the most important and innovative contribution to research in the Theory and Simulation of Materials.
Dr Goodwin said: "I am delighted and honoured to have been awarded the TYC@Imperial PhD prize. The Department of Materials and the TYC enriched my experience as a PhD candidate through weekly seminars on a diverse range of topics, the TYC's materials modelling course, and conferences.
I would like to thank my supervisors Dr Johannes Lischner and Professor Arash Mostofi for their patience and stimulating discussions, as well as thanking the members of the Mostofi-Lischner group and TYC for their support."
Dr Goodwin's thesis is titled: Theory and Simulation of Moiré Graphene Multilayers.
Jia Hui Teo: Tony Evans Memorial Prize
Dr Jia Hui Teo has been awarded the Tony Evans Memorial Prize. This is an annual award to the student with the best PhD Thesis in the ceramics discipline as determined by the Director of the Structural Ceramics Centre based on the examiners' report.
Dr Teo said: "I am honoured to have received the Tony Evans Memorial Award, it was unexpected and more than I could have asked for. Having to finish my PhD write-up during the pandemic was very challenging and I thank my supervisors, Luc Vandeperre and Eduardo Saiz for their support during an unprecedented time.
Without them and many others, I would have found it even more of a challenge. I would also like to thank my sponsors, DSO National Laboratories for the support that was given during my PhD."
Jia's thesis is titled: Using Impedance Engineering to Design Better Ceramic Composites for Armour
Håkon Høgset: The Larry Hench Biomaterials Prize
Dr Håkon Høgset has been awarded the Larry Hench Biomaterials Prize for excellence in a PhD in a Biomaterials related subject.
Dr Høgset said: I am very grateful to have been awarded the Larry Hench Biomaterial Prize. I would first like to thank my supervisor Prof. Molly Stevens for her guidance, support and encouragement during my Ph.D. It has been fantastic to work for Molly.
I also want to thank everyone working in the Stevens group – it has been incredibly inspiring to work with so many nice and talented people and I have learned so much. Big thanks also to all scientific collaborators and to my sponsor Aker Scholarship that gave me the opportunity to do a Ph.D. at Imperial."
Jerry (Zijie) Sha: John Kilner Prize for Energy Materials
Dr Jerry (Zijie) Sha has been awarded the John Kilner Prize for Energy Materials. This prize recognises excellence in a PhD study in any subject related to materials for application in energy conversion systems.
"I'm honoured to have received the John Kilner Prize for Energy Materials. I would like to pay special regard to my parents who unconditionally trust and support me. This PhD study would not be possible without their support.
I also wish to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Prof. Stephen J. Skinner. From whom I have learned a great deal not only in terms of scientific knowledge but also about being a decent researcher. I wish to further thank all of my colleagues in the department for their support and company. It has been a privilege to study and work here."
Dr Sha's thesis title is: Investigation of Mass Transport in Mixed Conducting A-site Deficient (La0.8Sr0.2)0.95Cr0.5Fe0.5O3-δ Perovskites in Humid Conditions.
Alessandro Piglione: Constance Fligg Tipper Centenary Memorial Prize
Dr Alessandro Piglione has been awarded the Constance Fligg Tipper Centenary Memorial Prize for Award showing the most industry and independence in research, with outstanding contributions to Materials Science and Engineering.
"My PhD has been a stimulating yet challenging succession of ups and downs. Receiving this award makes me very proud, particularly remembering the harder days, and provides me with renewed motivation for my future endeavours. I would like to express my profound gratitude to Dr Son Pham, who provided me with excellent support and guidance throughout these years, and to all the colleagues and friends I have shared this journey with"
Dr Piglione's thesis is titled: Microstructural mechanisms of cyclic plasticity and fatigue damage in Ni-based superalloys.
Stuart Aberdeen: Prize in Advanced Materials Characterisation Techniques
Dr Stuart Aberdeen has been awarded the Prize in Advanced Materials Characterisation Techniques. This is awarded at the end of Postgraduate study, to a research student using advanced materials characterisation techniques leading to a higher degree.
Dr Aberdeen said: "I am honoured to receive this award and to have the work that I have conducted be recognised by the Department of Materials. This accomplishment is not something that I did alone, therefore I would like to thank my PhD supervisors, Professor Mary Ryan, and Professor Luc Vandeperre for their constant support throughout my PhD.
They gave me the chance to excel in the field of materials characterisation. While studying at Imperial for the last 4 years I was fortunate enough to be part of a fantastic research group and I hope that I can continue to use all the experience I have gained for my future endeavours."
Dr Aberdeen's thesis is titled: Radionuclide and Heavy Metal Sorption on to Functionalised Magnetic Nanoparticles for Environmental Remediation
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