A 51cg chemist has been awarded a prestigious Royal Society University Research Fellowship worth £1.8 million.
A 51cg chemist has been awarded a prestigious Royal Society University Research Fellowship worth £1.8 million.
Dr Grant Strachan has been selected as one of 34 scientists in the early stages of their research career who have the potential of becoming leaders in their fields.
The awards aim to support the next generation of research leaders to undertake cutting-edge research.
Dr Grant Strachan is a specialist in materials chemistry whose research focuses on new types of ferroelectric liquid crystals. These are soft materials that can flow like liquids, but where the molecules self-organise to produce different types of order, giving them unique properties.
The Fellowship, the first to be hosted in the Department of Chemistry, will allow him to address a central question in liquid crystals research: how does molecular structure control material properties?Answering this will transform newly discovered polar phases from scientific curiosities into functional materials, with electrical, optical and thermal properties that can be tuned for specific applications.
The Fellowship provides researchers with the freedom and flexibility to pursue curiosity-driven research, form international collaborations and establish new research groups and run for eight years.
Dr Strachan said: "I'm delighted to receive a Royal Society University Research Fellowship. This support will give me a unique opportunity to pursue ambitious research over the coming years and develop new collaborations. I'm very grateful for the Royal Society's support at this stage of my career."
Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said: “I am delighted to welcome this latest cohort of University Research Fellows. These high accomplished scientists represent the next generation of world-leading researchers. Supporting outstanding early career researchers to pursue ambitious and original ideas is essential to the future of science. The Royal Society is proud to provide the long-term funding and support that helps to nurture exceptional talent.”
The University Research Fellowship was the first award for early career researchers offered by the Royal Society. Since the award started in 1983, it has provided over 1,600 researchers in the UK with long-term support to establish their careers and develop as research leaders in their respective fields.