We are delighted to announce the winners for the RSC Advances Outstanding Student Paper Awards 2025. RSC Advances presents an annual award series to recognise the hard work of students within the chemistry community.
All research articles published in RSC Advances in 2025 were considered. In order to be eligible for this award, the first author or co-first author must have been a student at the time of carrying out the research. From the support of corresponding authors, we received over 750 nominations highlighting the incredible talent and potential of emerging researchers in the field of chemistry. These awards continue to celebrate the exceptional work across a range of research fields and countries, reflecting the talent, diversity, and scientific curiosity that define the next generation of chemists.
The nominations were shortlisted based on several criteria, and the winning papers were then selected by our Editorial Board and Associate Editors.
Below, we highlight the winner of each subject category and the research paper that won them the award. Please join us in congratulating all our winners for their exceptional achievement. We look forward to witnessing their continued growth and impact as they embark on a promising career in the field of chemistry.
Analytical Chemistry
Pengju Ren, Southern University of Science and Technology, China
Pengju is recognised for his outstanding contribution to the research presented in:
Pengju Ren received his Ph.D. from School of Environmental Science and Engineering at Southern University of Science and Technology in July 2025, under the supervision of Professor Yuanyuan Tang. His doctoral research centred on the aggregation behavior of nanoplastics, with particular attention to how mineral–metal ion interactions and heterogeneous polymers influence nanoplastic aggregation. Leveraging asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4), he developed a robust and efficient method for the separation of nanoplastics, and applied it to several natural freshwater bodies, where it proved effective in achieving nanoplastic separation in real environmental matrices.
After graduation, he joined Kingfa Sci. & Tech. Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese enterprise in the modified plastics industry. He continues to pursue research on polymer materials, driven by a commitment to developing more eco-friendly plastics that contribute to a more sustainable future.
Biological and Medicinal Chemistry
Akilandeswari Ashwini Balachandran, Murdoch University, Australia
Akilandeswari is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the research presented in:
Akilandeswari Ashwini Balachandran obtained her M.Tech. in Biotechnology from Bharathidasan University, Trichy, India, in 2014. She then worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the Vision Research Foundation, Chennai, India, where she gained expertise in aptamers, siRNA, DNAzymes, and cancer cell-targeted oligonucleotide delivery.
In 2019, she commenced her PhD in Biomedical Science at Murdoch University, Australia, under the supervision of Professor Rakesh N. Veedu. Her doctoral research focused on the development of splice-modulating antisense oligonucleotides for therapeutic applications. She designed and evaluated EGFR-targeting antisense oligonucleotides and developed biomolecule-conjugated strategies to enhance their cellular internalization. Her doctoral studies were supported by scholarships from the Commonwealth Government of Australia and the Forrest Research Foundation. She completed her PhD in 2023 and currently works as a Senior Scientist at AstraZeneca, Sweden.
Catalysis
Anika Rahman Riya, Abrar Daiyan, Mehedi Hasan Prince and Troyee Mitra Aishi, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
Anika, Abrar, Mehedi and Troyee are recognised for their outstanding contribution to the research presented in:
High-efficiency photocatalysis in Ca–Cr doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles via bandgap tuning
Anika Rahman Riya completed her BSc in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2024. Her undergraduate research focused on functional oxide materials, including Ca-Cr co-doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles for photocatalysis and Gd-substituted NiFe2O4 for magnetic and pseudocapacitive applications. She is now pursuing a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at Michigan State University, where her research focuses on emerging chalcogenide-perovskite semiconductors. She is working to develop improved synthesis methods and understand how synthesis conditions affect material quality and photoluminescence. Her broader interests include designing functional materials for energy and environmental applications.
Abrar Daiyan received his Bachelors in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2024. His broad scale research interests were synthesis, characterization and investigation of structure-property relationships of functional nanomaterials. During his undergraduate studies, his research, under the supervision of Dr. Takian Fakhrul, primarily focused on the synthesis and characterization of magnetic and multiferroic oxide nanoparticles. His work included studying gadolinium-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles and investigating the magnetic, optical, and photocatalytic properties of Ca- and Cr-doped bismuth ferrite. These research efforts included nanoparticle synthesis, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, magnetic characterization, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and photocatalytic dye degradation. His work on Ca–Cr co-doped BiFeO3 demonstrated enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity through bandgap tuning. After graduating with honors, he served as an Adjunct Lecturer in the department for 6 months before pursuing graduate studies in the United States. He is currently a 2nd year PhD Student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in Carnegie Mellon University. His research interests have since shifted toward physical metallurgy, alloy design, and metal additive manufacturing. His current work focuses on laser powder bed fusion of high-temperature aluminum alloys, with particular emphasis on understanding process–structure–property relationships and designing lightweight alloys that retain strength and microstructural stability at elevated temperatures.
Mehedi Hasan Prince is a Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), USA. He received his B.Sc. in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), where his undergraduate research focused on the synthesis and characterization of functional materials for photocatalytic applications. This work contributed to his publication, “High-efficiency photocatalysis in Ca–Cr doped BiFeO3 nanoparticles via bandgap tuning,” published in RSC Advances. His current doctoral research focuses on thin-film materials for advanced semiconductor applications, including the synthesis, structural characterization, and electrical properties of interconnect materials. His broader research interests include thin-film deposition, electronic materials, and materials characterization.
Troyee Mitra Aishi is a PhD candidate in the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. Her doctoral research focuses on sustainable nitrogen removal from wastewater, developing biopolymer–mineral composite materials to support anammox-based treatment processes. She previously earned her Bachelor’s in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, where she worked on doped bismuth ferrite nanoparticles for photocatalytic applications, the work recognized in this award. Her broader interests lie in designing functional materials for environmental remediation and water treatment.
Computational & Theoretical Chemistry
Tanshia Tahreen Tanisha, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
Tanshia is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the research presented in:
Tanshia Tahreen Tanisha received her Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Southern California. Her M.Sc. thesis focused on first-principles investigations of switching mechanisms and the effects of doping in monolayer WS₂-based memristors. During her undergraduate and master’s research, she employed density functional theory calculations to study two-dimensional materials, quantum spin Hall insulators, and memristors. Her current doctoral research focuses on designing a solver for an NP-complete problem. She also aims to expand her research to include memristors and other fabrication-based projects.
Energy Chemistry
Busarakham Ngokpho, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand
Busarakham is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the research presented in:
Busarakham Ngokpho is a master’s student in Chemistry at the School of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand, under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr Kamonwad Ngamchuea. Her research interests focus on sustainable electrochemical conversion of lignin and the development of value-added materials from lignin-derived resources. Her work combines electrochemistry, biomass valorization, and materials chemistry to explore sustainable routes for transforming lignin into useful chemical and functional materials.
Her research on electrochemical lignin depolymerization led to the development of a halide-mediated oxidation strategy using boron-doped diamond electrodes. The study systematically investigated the roles of halide redox chemistry and membrane configuration in controlling lignin oxidation, product formation, and electrode stability, demonstrating a tunable approach for producing aromatic chemicals from lignin. This work resulted in the publication “Controlling electrochemical lignin depolymerization via halide chemistry at boron-doped diamond electrodes” in RSC Advances in 2025. She is currently pursuing research on lignin valorization, including the development of oxidized lignin-based functional materials for sustainable sensing applications.
Food Chemistry
Yi Li, China Agricultural University, China
Yi is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the research presented in:
Yi Li is a Ph.D. student in Food Science and Engineering at China Agricultural University, working under the supervision of Professor Ning Tang. Her doctoral research focuses on the interactions between calcium and iron(II) hydroxycarboxylates and their effects on calcium bioavailability, integrating thermodynamic analysis with molecular investigations of intestinal calcium absorption. She has published six research articles in peer-reviewed journals. Her research provides thermodynamic and mechanistic insights into the solubility, speciation, and bioavailability of calcium and iron, contributing to a better understanding of mineral interactions and their implications for nutritional fortification and functional food development.
Inorganic Chemistry
Houyem Khlifi, University of Sfax, Tunisia
Houyem is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the research presented in:
Houyem Khlifi is a PhD student in Inorganic Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, Tunisia. She joined the research group of Professor Houcine Naïli in 2024, where she is pursuing her doctoral research on the design, synthesis, structural characterization, and functional properties of transition-metal-based materials.
Her research focuses particularly on lead-free hybrid perovskites and metal halide materials, with an emphasis on palladium-, copper-, and other transition-metal-based compounds. Her work combines experimental and theoretical approaches to establish structure–property relationships and to understand how molecular and crystal structures govern the physicochemical and functional properties of these materials.
Her research interests include the investigation of optical, thermal, electronic, magnetic, and electrochemical properties, as well as the exploration of multifunctional applications in catalysis, electrochemical sensing, and environmental remediation. Through her doctoral research, she aims to contribute to the development of new lead-free functional materials with potential applications in advanced and sustainable technologies.
Her research has resulted in several peer-reviewed publications in the fields of inorganic chemistry, materials science, and environmental applications.
Materials Chemistry
Yusleny Ramirez-Tarazona, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia
Yusleny is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the research presented in:
Ammonium “catch and release” from wastewater using TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber beads
Yusleny Ramirez-Tarazona conducted the research for her RSC Advances publication while she was an undergraduate Chemistry student at the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS), Colombia, under the supervision of Prof. Marianny Y. Combariza. Her early research focused on the development and characterization of cellulose-based materials for environmental applications, particularly the recovery of nutrients from aqueous systems through sustainable biomaterials.
She is currently pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at UIS, where her research focuses on designing three-dimensional biopolymer matrices based on natural polymers for the recovery and controlled release of inorganic nutrients from wastewater, contributing to the development of circular and sustainable nutrient management strategies.
Nanoscience
Glory Kah, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Glory is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the research presented in:
Glory Kah was born in Bamenda, Cameroon. She obtained a Diploma in Biomedical Technology from the School of Medical Laboratory Technology, Bamenda, in 2006 and subsequently worked as a Biomedical Technologist in the Department of Public Health, Cameroon, from 2007 to 2016. In 2015, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of Dschang, Cameroon, through part-time study. She later completed a BTech in Biomedical Technology (2019) and a Master’s degree in Biotechnology with distinction (2022) from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2025, she obtained a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. She has authored and co-authored publications in internationally accredited, peer-reviewed journals.
Kah is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Laser Research Centre, University of Johannesburg. She has developed an interdisciplinary research profile spanning nanotechnology, photochemistry, cancer biology, and biomedical sciences, with particular interest in the design of functional nanomaterials for cancer photodynamic therapy and biomedical applications. Her long-term research vision is to develop innovative, chemically engineered and light-responsive nanomaterials that can selectively target cancer cells and cancer stem-cell populations while providing improved therapeutic efficacy and reduced off-target toxicity. Through this interdisciplinary approach, Kah aims to contribute to the advancement of photochemistry, nanomedicine and precision cancer therapy.
Organic Chemistry
Sakshi Singh, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, India
Sakshi is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the research presented in:
Sakshi Singh completed her PhD in Organic Chemistry in 2025 from the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, India, under the supervision of Prof. Shantanu Pal. Her doctoral research focused on developing sustainable and efficient synthetic methodologies for the construction of diverse fused N-heterocyclic scaffolds using transition-metal catalysis, while also exploring the underlying mechanistic pathways and photophysical properties of the resulting heterocyclic compounds. She completed her MSc in Chemistry from Shri Agrasen Kanya P.G. College, Varanasi, graduating with a Gold Medal for securing first rank. Currently, she is a scientist at Sai Life Sciences Limited, Hyderabad, India in Research and Development department. Her research interests include synthetic methodology development, heterocyclic chemistry, metal catalysis, reaction optimization, and the development of scalable synthetic routes for pharmaceutical intermediates. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling and painting portraits.
Physical Chemistry
Jaime Bueno, Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid ICMM-CSIC, Spain
Jaime is recognised for his outstanding contribution to the research presented in:
Plasmonic nanoparticles boost low-current perovskite LEDs governed by photon recycling effects
Jaime Bueno holds a BSc in Physics and a MSc in Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology and Photonics from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. He began research during his MSc thesis, specializing in Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) simulations to model perovskite-based plasmonic solar cells. He is currently a PhD candidate in photonics at the Materials Science Institute of Madrid (ICMM-CSIC), supervised by Dr. Sol Carretero-Palacios and Miguel Anaya. His work focuses on the modeling and optimization of plasmonic perovskite-based tandem solar cells and light-emitting devices. During his doctoral studies, he completed two research stays focused on artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, where he leveraged advanced computational infrastructures to handle demanding simulations and train models on large datasets.
His current work combines computational photonics and machine learning for the inverse design of plasmonic systems with technological applications, integrating generative models to accelerate exploration and optimization. These advances are improving device performance and will underpin the final publications of his doctoral dissertation.
Please join us in congratulating all of our winners for their exceptional achievement. We extend our sincere gratitude to all the authors for their contributions, as well as to the editors and referees for their collaboration, which has resulted in this high-quality series.
We will continue to recognise outstanding student contributions and plan to give out these awards each year. If you published a research article in 2026, or go on to publish with the journal in the future, and would like to recognise a significant contribution made by a student, we invite them to join us in future editions of this series. Please email advances-rsc@rsc.org for more information.
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