Dr. Derek Burrell, Winner of the IOP Optical Group Doctoral Thesis Prize 2024

Dr. Derek Burrell, OSC alumnus 2023, was named the recipient of the 2024 Optical Group Doctoral Thesis Prize from the Institute of Physics (IOP). This prestigious award recognizes outstanding doctoral research defended in 2023 and highlights groundbreaking contributions to the field of optical science.

Derek's thesis, titled "Speckle Phenomena in Active Electro-Optical Applications," explores the characterization and mitigation of laser speckle noise in tracking and wavefront-sensing systems. His work focuses on improving long-range imaging under turbulent and scattering atmospheric conditions, a critical step for the successful implementation of active electro-optics. The judging committee praised the innovation and potential impact of his research in both active and passive imaging applications.

Reflecting on the award, Derek expressed gratitude for the opportunities at OSC and the collaboration with his advisor, Ron Driggers, professor of optical sciences, with whom he continues to publish. “This award reflects the immense opportunity that OSC provided and the hard work that I put in to seize it. More than the award itself, it’s difficult to imagine a better appraisal of my efforts (together with my committee) than the international community of IOP reviewing and finding value in our research,” said Derek.

Since graduating from the Wyant College of Optical Sciences with his PhD in Summer 2023, Derek aims to become a principal investigator. Specifically, he continues to work on research advancing technologies such as holographic data storage and wireless power transfer, aiming to solve energy efficiency and sustainability challenges. Derek was selected for a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellowship, and was recently featured by the magazine, read this article here.

The award includes a certificate and a monetary prize of £250. Congratulations to Dr. Derek Burrell on this remarkable achievement and we wish him continued success in his promising career!