Winner of annual postgraduate prize announced
Nikola Zotev is the winner of this year's Norma and Fraser Stoddart Prize. Nikola studied for his PhD in the research group of Dr Adam Kirrander.
Stoddart Prize winners are expected not only to have demonstrated superior research accomplishments throughout their time at Edinburgh but they should also have contributed to the life of students within the School of Chemistry and beyond.
I feel honoured to have received the Sir Fraser and Norma Stoddart PhD prize 2021. I have obtained both my undergraduate degree and my PhD from The University of Edinburgh and in these past 9 years the School of Chemistry has felt like a second home to me. In addition to the superb academic training, it introduced me to a number of my lifelong friends and expanded my network beyond anything I could imagine. Realising how fortunate I have been, I have tried to repay the School and its community. This award will always remind me that my small contribution to the School has not gone unnoticed
Using my extensive experience in analysis of numerical data and using computer models to simulate real-life systems, I have started a job as a Simulation Analyst in Ocado Technology. While not related to chemistry, the skills I developed during my studies in Edinburgh - critical thinking, problem-solving capacity, ability to tackle hard-to-solve problems - have been a great asset to my current work.
Congratulations to Nikola!
