PhD student wins prize for best Engineering research at the House of Commons

Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan received the Section Prize for the best Engineering research at a Reception for Early-Stage Researchers last Tuesday. Rafiq, a PhD student from the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton, was presented his certificate and £1000 at the reception at the House of Commons.

His award-winning poster illustrated Rafiq's current work on integrated optics, which are gaining an increasing foothold on the biosensor market. Biosensors now play a vital and essential role in homeland security, medicine, industry and the environment. Rafiq is currently on study leave from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, where he is a lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering. His PhD is sponsored by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Government of Malaysia.

Rafiq was one of three PhD students from the ORC chosen to present posters on their current research at the Reception. A total of 91 posters by top UK researchers including research students, postdocs, university lecturers and industrial researchers were chosen out of more than 150 applicants. The successful posters presented a panorama of high-quality and ground-breaking UK engineering research and development.

Over 50 MPs attended the event, which aims to encourage networking and engagement between younger researchers and politicians. It is one of a range of events aimed at supporting and promoting the work of Britain's younger research scientists, engineers and technologists - researchers who will be making a significant contribution to the future development of the UK's research base, and will become the country's scientific leaders of the future.

Despite the Mountbatten fire in October of last year, the ORC continues to produce world-class research output and this achievement is one of the many examples of the ORC’s resilience.