Seven Imperial researchers receive prestigious Fellowships

By Colin Smith

Seven researchers from Imperial College London have this month been awarded prestigious fellowships totalling more than £6 million, designed to help them to develop their potential as the next generation of world-leading scientists and engineers.

The researchers, who span a range of scientific and engineering disciplines, have all received Engineering and Physical Science Research Council Fellowships, which aim to nurture their talent and help them to develop ground breaking ideas across a range of fields. The long-term ambition is that these Fellowships will provide the means to help academics become leaders with the skills necessary to enable the UK to compete further on a global stage, generating the knowledge, new ideas and technologies essential to support business, government, and the UK’s national priorities.

Four researchers from the College have been awarded Career Acceleration Fellowships (CAFs). They are receiving a five-year grant to help them at an early stage of their career, with the expectation that they will have established an independent career of international standing by the end of the award. This year’s CAFs at Imperial are James Bull , from the Department of Chemistry, Drs Amelle Zair and Piers Barnes from the Department of Physics, and Thomas Reddyhoff , from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

A further three Imperial researchers were awarded Leadership Fellowships from the EPRSC: Fernando Bresme , from the Department of Chemistry, Simon Colton , from the Department of Computing, and Professor Claire Adjiman , from the Department of Chemical Engineering. Their Fellowships run for up to five years and aim to help academics develop into international research leaders who can set and drive new research agendas.

Each year, on average, 450 applications are received for around 40 fellowship awards. Successful fellows have a strong publication record and are able to demonstrate independence from their supervisors.

Sir Keith O’Nions , Rector of the College, says: “Competition for these Fellowships is fierce and I am absolutely delighted to see so many Imperial researchers receiving these prestigious awards – it’s a testament to their hard work and outstanding ability. For some, these Fellowships will help to establish their careers. For others, it may help them to them to become leaders in their field. I know our Faculty Principals join me in congratulating this year’s cohort. As the next generation of research leaders, we look forward to watching them set the national and international research agenda in the years to come.”