Lorenzo

Lorenzo is the current recipient of the Oxford Sir David and Lady Clary Graduate Scholarship in Chemistry. Thanks to his scholarship, he was able to take up his place at Magdalen and is now doing his DPhil research into the advancement of renewable energy technology.

My interest in Chemistry was sparked in High School in Italy, where I first discovered my interest in renewable energy. When I moved to the UK to undertake my first degree at Liverpool, I pursued my interest in sustainable energy and physical chemistry. I decided to do a PhD after having completed a placement year with Unilever, and applied to Magdalen.

I was delighted to be awarded a scholarship, as without it I would not have been able to take up my place at Magdalen.

The scholarship made me feel that the Chemists in Oxford and the Fellows at Magdalen believed in me and my abilities as a scientist – knowing that they think I can perform high-quality research is very rewarding. It gives me the confidence to keep going; research can be tough and there can be challenging moments, but if you know someone believes in you, it motivates you not to give up.

My research is in organic solar cells, which are devices that can absorb light and convert it into electricity. Unlike the commercial silicon solar cells, the ones I’m working on are made of organic molecules. These organic solar cells are very promising because they are easily tuneable, readily available, flexible and recyclable. I believe solar energy is one of the most promising technologies in this area.

I really appreciate the effort alumni have put into making this scholarship happen. I am having an amazing experience and I am doing my very best to make the most of the opportunity and contribute to my field. Thank you.