A new graduate scholarship has been established in the Department of Physics following a gift of £86,000 from alumnus Nick Greenwood. Mr Greenwood is a longstanding supporter of physics students at Oxford, with six scholarships having now been created through his generosity.
The fully funded scholarship will cover the course fees and living costs of a DPhil student working in the Photovoltaic and Optoelectronic Device Group, which is led by Binks Professor of Renewable Energy, Henry Snaith. Under his supervision the group tackles wide-ranging problems across the field of novel semiconducting materials and devices, with a particular focus on understanding and improving photovoltaic (solar) devices.
Photovoltaics are the only renewable energy source that could, in principle, easily meet all of the world’s energy needs. However, technological advances are needed to fundamentally improve the efficiency and cost of photovoltaic panels before their full potential can be realised. Talented graduate students are playing a crucial role in helping to drive forward this work at Oxford.
Professor Henry Snaith said: ‘I am very grateful to Nick Greenwood for this gift, and for the continued generosity he has shown towards graduate students working in this strategically important area of research. With his support we will be able to provide a brilliant opportunity to a promising student who might not otherwise be able to come to Oxford and contribute to our work.’
Mr Greenwood established his first scholarship in the Department of Physics in 2017, and has since enabled five young researchers to take up their offer of a place for doctoral study there.
Saqlain Choudhary, who was awarded a scholarship supported by Mr Greenwood in 2021, said: ‘It is my humble opinion that there is no greater gift you can give a person than the freedom to determine the direction of their own lives. Without [this] generosity, I would not be pursuing my passions, improving my skills and contributing to society to the extent which I am at Oxford.’
Mr Greenwood’s latest scholarship will be named after Sir Rudolf Peierls (1907-1995), a renowned German-born British physicist whose research contributed to early developments in quantum mechanics. Peierls held the esteemed Wykeham Professorship in Physics at Oxford from 1963 to 1974, and was also a Fellow of New College, where Mr Greenwood later went on to study.
Mr Greenwood said: ‘Developing the careers of outstanding young talents while doing important research has been a great pleasure. Their work enriches science and Oxford. I would encourage any potential donor to explore this form of support.’
The Rudolf Peierls Scholarship will be awarded to a student beginning their studies in October 2022.