Outstanding student who appeared on BBC4 wins prestigious student scholar award

Photonics PhD student, Senta Scholl, has been selected winner of the 2017-2018 Professor Sir David Payne Student Scholar Award.

This annual Award recognises the hard work and truly outstanding achievements of members of the Optoelectronics Research Centre’s PhD community, not only in academic excellence but also in the outreach and engagement activities which create impact and help inspire others in the scientific arena and beyond. Senta, who receives a £3,000 cash prize, was nominated by her PhD supervisor Professor Peter Smith, and chosen by the award panel for her truly outstanding achievements both in academia and in her contribution to promoting photonics to the wider public.

Most recently, Senta appeared in a BBC4 television science documentary ‘The Secret Story of Stuff’ as part of ORC outreach activities, where she helped explain the total internal reflection of light. The panel recognised Senta for ‘her excellent academic performance combined with her clear strengths in leadership and consistent high marks, whilst simultaneously raising the profile of photonics research and women in engineering’.

Senta commented: "I am truly delighted to have been nominated for this Award and it is such an honour to actually win this prize! I really have benefitted from the strong support provided by my supervisors Peter Smith and Christopher Holmes as well as by my whole research group. I would have never believed the support and opportunities that I received within the ORC for my professional and personal development and I am very grateful for that.”

On presenting Senta with the award at a reception to welcome the new 2018/2019 intake of PhD students to the ORC, Professor Sir David Payne said: “Senta is a brilliant ambassador for both the ORC and women in engineering and has already shown remarkable skills in networking.

“I look forward to seeing Senta develop even further over the course of her PhD, making an impact not only in the academic community but also through outreach initiatives to encourage future generations of optical engineers.”

The competition was established following a generous donation by Dr KV Reddy (Pritel Ltd), a long-standing friend of the ORC, on the occasion of Director Professor Sir David’s 70th birthday and 50 years at the University. Sir David began his pioneering career in photonics studying for a PhD at Southampton. This fund creates a legacy that rewards excellence among ORC students for many years to come.