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Dr. Stephen Davitt with DCU Chancellor Dr. Martin McAleese
Dr. Stephen Davitt with DCU Chancellor Dr. Martin McAleese

Stephen Davitt awarded the Chancellor’s Medal

Congratulations to Stephen Davitt, a postgraduate student in the School of Physical Sciences, who was today awarded the Chancellor’s Medal, acknowledging his sustained and highly significant contributions to both academic and extracurricular life at Dublin City University.

Stephen 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 Ph.D., Stephen 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.

Stephen has continuously, inventively and enthusiastically contributed to providing a transformative student experience for both undergraduate students and early stage researchers via laboratory tutoring and project supervision with final year project students and beginning postgraduates respectively. Stephen is a brilliant science communicator and 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.”