Top graduate awarded PhD bursary at ORC
A top UK graduate has been awarded a bursary to the value of £18,000 a year for the duration of his PhD from the Optoelectronics Research Centre.
Stephen Lynch graduated this year with a first-class degree in Electronic Engineering from ECS (Electronics and Computer Sciences) here at Southampton. As an undergraduate, Stephen won a Zepler scholarship for obtaining first-class marks in addition to undertaking placements within the areas of web science and optoelectronics.
His supervisor, Professor Peter Smith, observed: âStephen stands out as an intelligent, committed and perceptive student. I was not surprised to hear heâd won the bursary, as he is well motivated for PhD study. I believe he will be fully committed and become an excellent researcher.â?
Stephenâs award was maintained as a close secret until the presentation, he said: âI found it odd that my supervisor, Professor Peter Smith, was so keen to attend this particular induction party. What I did not imagine was that the party was to announce the winner of the bursary and that I would be receiving it! It was a great honour to receive the award from Professor David Payne and I will take his words of advice to heart. Winning the bursary, I feel, exerts a weight of greater expectations and responsibility to make my PhD project a success, although it will also help me be more able and driven to meet the challenge. I am lucky to have the support of so many talented and friendly people in the ORC and ECS and I will be eternally thankful to them for helping me get here and for their continued support.â?
Find out more about PhD funding.