Stephen Davitt, a postgraduate student in Dublin City University's School of Physical Sciences, has been awarded the Chancellor’s Medal, acknowledging his sustained and highly significant contributions to both academic and extracurricular life at Dublin City University (DCU).
Generation of laser produced colliding plasmas in ambient air conditions
Davitt successfully defended his PhD in September 2018, under the supervision of Professor John Costello in the School of Physical Sciences. His research involved the generation of laser produced colliding plasmas in ambient air conditions for applications in laser induced breakdown spectroscopy or LIBS.
Upon completion of his PhD, Davitt secured two postdoctoral positions, the first with Dr Patrick Hayden on LIBS at deep UV wavelengths and his second, and current, postdoctoral position on a Science Foundation Ireland funded project focusing on laser ablation for materials growth in high pressure environments. The project is led by Prof James Lunney and Dr Rocco Lupoi at Trinity College Dublin.
DCU said that Davitt has been the 'face' of DCU Physics at almost every significant outreach event over the past six years.
Dean of the Faculty of Science and Health Michelle Butler said: “Stephen has displayed exceptional talent as a science communicator, with the ability to engage and enthuse a broad-based audience and to explain significantly complex topics in a clear and accessible manner.
"He has been a tremendous ambassador for physics and STEM generally and his achievements have brought much credit to Dublin City University, the Faculty of Science and Health, and the School of Physical Sciences.”