Marconi Society award Young Scholar prize to ORC student
The Marconi Society has recently selected Eric Plum - a third year PhD student from the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), University of Southampton, as a 2009 Marconi Society Young Scholar.
The Marconi Society award Young Scholar prizes to individuals who are believed will make a real difference in science and society, serving as role models and inspiration for others.
Eric has been awarded the prize for his âexceptional class ranking, demonstrated research capabilities and entrepreneurial spirit, as well as his commitment to the ideal of âscience for the benefit of humanityâ.â? - Robert W. Lucky, Chair, Marconi Board of Directors.
Eric is a member of the nanophotonics research group, under the supervision of ORC Deputy Director, Professor Nikolay Zheludev. He has worked on a variety of projects at the ORC and published a number of papers including âMetamaterial with Negative Index due to Chiralityâ? which was highlighted in the Editorâs suggestions of the journal Physical Review B.
Before joining the ORC in 2006, Eric studied Physics at RWTH Aachen, Germany and spent his third year as a visiting student at the University of Southampton in the School of Physics and Astronomy. He spent his fourth year as a Fulbright scholar at New Mexico Tech, USA, where he received highest honours for his BSc in Physics with Astrophysics and was awarded the Albert Petscheck Award for excellence in theoretical physics.
On receiving the news Eric said âI am both excited and privileged to have been selected for this award; it is an important stepping stone in my career as a researcher. I am thankful for the opportunity the ORC has provided me, the great supervision and well-funded research have helped me to excel.â?
2008 Marconi Prize and Fellowship winner and Director of the ORC, Professor David Payne comments: âThe Marconi Society Young Scholar prize is one of the top awards in the field of telecommunications and is highly selective. Eric well deserves his reward as an absolutely outstanding student who is on a trajectory to become a leading figure in the field.â?
Eric will be presented the $4000 prize money at the annual Marconi Society Awards Gala Dinner, due to be held later this year in Bologna, Italy.