The ISGS PhD Thesis Award, first launched in 2018, was created to distinguish PhD theses representing outstanding contributions to scientific and/or technological knowledge in the field of sol-gel chemistry and related fields.
The Award Committee for the 2024 competition was composed of Professor Benoit Heinrichs, Hiromitso Kozuka, Lisa Klein, Sidney J L Ribeiro, and Vadim Kessler.
Eight nominations were received for the ISGS PhD Thesis Award 2024. According to the members of the Award Committee, all the theses are of very high quality and reflect the degree of maturity in insights into mechanisms in formation of complex materials, their synthesis by sol-gel methods, and their advanced characterization. The first place was determined by unanimous decision to be awarded to Dr. Fanny Thorimbert, but it was very difficult for the Committee to rank the subtle differences between the other award-winning three theses, which were by Dr. Andrea Montero-Oleas, Dr. Ana Iglesias Mejuto and Dr. Taiki Hayashi. The Committee emphasized all three being excellent: they address new synthesis routes, new molecular precursors of germanium-containing materials, building up different complex composites, and demonstrate the applicability of the new materials in different areas. After detailed discussions the Committee arrived at a consensus that these three need to be ranked equally.
The overall ranking was that Dr. Fanny Thorimbert was ranked first and the three other candidates second without any inner order.
Dr. Fanny Thorimbert did her PhD at Sorbonne Université, France under supervision of Prof. M. Faustini. The thesis is devoted to patterning of colloid solution derived films and coatings through controlled cracking to serve as a technological tool for optical-based applications.
Dr. Andrea Montero-Oleas performed her PhD work in a joint program of Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), France and Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina. Her supervisors were Dr. Xavier Cattoënh and Prof. Sara Aldabe Bilmes. Her Thesis is combining chemistry and physics in building Au_mesoSiO2 structures for light-controlled enzyme or protein delivery.
Dr. Ana Iglesias Mejuto did her PhD at the University University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, supervised by Prof. Carlos A. García-González and Dr. Inés Ardao-Palacios. Her Thesis work was devoted to aerogel synthesis, mixing natural biopolymers with SPIONs particles and 3D-printing. Magnetic properties.
Dr. Taiki HAYASHI performed his PhD study at Waseda University, Japan. His supervisor was Prof. Atsushi Shimojima. His Thesis was devoted to synthesis of new germanoxanes and germanosiloxanes and their application in self-healing materials.
As Gold Medal and Silver Medal winners of the PhD Thesis Award 2024, Dr. Fanny Thorimbert, Dr. Andrea Montero-Oleas, Dr. Ana Iglesias Mejuto and Dr. Taiki Hayashi. will receive a diploma and a 2-year ISGS membership.
Thanks to Springer sponsoring, they will receive books in the value of US$500, US$400, and US$300, respectively.
Moreover, they will be invited to contribute with a paper to the Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, the official journal of ISGS.
They will also be invited to present an online lecture at the ISGS eSeminar Series
The Board of Directors of the ISGS and the ISGS PhD Thesis Award Committee wish to warmly congratulate the four young awardees.
