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Durham Uni awarded for emerging technology research

Research projects into the superconducting material niobium carbonitride, thermoelectric temperature sensors and the use of Porphyrin-DNA, have been finalised as the winners of this year’s Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Awards for Young Scientists, with projects at Durham University taking first and second place.

The awards, focused on applications within Healthcare & Life Sciences, Energy & Environment and Materials & Devices, were announced at this year’s UK Nano & Emerging Technologies Forum.

Mark Raine, Department of Physics, Durham University, was awarded first prize for his research into improving the upper critical magnetic field of the superconducting material niobium carbonitride. If successful, this material could provide a new class of superconductors that would facilitate improvements in superconducting magnets, and hence, improve MRI scanners, energy storage devices and fusion reactors.

Mark said: “Winning this award shows I have captured the attention of others and the recognition is a wonderful encouragement for the team I work with.

“These awards are so valuable as they allow us to see what work is being carried out in areas of critical importance and I would recommend them to others looking to promote their work.”

Toby Gill of the NanoKTN said: “The EPSRC awards encourages uptake from young scientists and provides them with the opportunity to communicate their research to a broader audience, one that they would not normally expect to meet. The experience of meeting this wider community is aimed at focusing the researchers’ minds on where their research could have impact in the modern world.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .