Biochemistry PhD student Joshua Lawrence has received the Katharine Burr Blodgett Award for his doctoral research. This prize recognises outstanding work by a recent PhD graduate in the field of colloid and interface science. The prize is named in honour of Katharine Burr Blodgett, who was the first woman to receive a PhD in physics from the University of Cambridge. Her work with Irving Langmuir on molecular films was foundational in the field of surface science, leading to the award of the 1932 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and of which Langmuir was the sole recipient.
Joshua was also recently awarded the H.E. Woodman prize, which rewards the best University of Cambridge thesis in plant genetics or biochemistry related to food and/or agriculture, awarded by the Regius Professor of Botany and the Professor of Genetics. His doctoral research was completed in the lab of Prof. Christopher Howe. The work focused on the development of bio-electrodes, combining structured materials and films of natural membranes isolated from cyanobacteria and other photosynthetic microorganisms. He demonstrated how this tool can be used to analyse the electron and ion transport performed in these biological membranes.
Joshua is currently a Research Fellow at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, working in the lab of Jenny Zhang in the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry.