Dr Duncan Mifsud has been awarded his PhD!
Congratulations to Dr Duncan Mifsud who successfully defended his thesis on the 2nd March 2023. The title of his thesis is “On the Astrochemistry of Sulphur Molecules in Interstellar and Solar System Ice Analogues”.
Duncan’s research largely focused on the solid-phase formation and destruction of sulphur-containing molecules induced by ionising radiation under conditions representative of interstellar space and the outer Solar System. This work was performed at the Atomki Institute for Nuclear Research in Debrecen, Hungary.
“It took a few days for the realisation that I had passed to sink in,” he later said. “The viva was actually a really great experience, as I got the chance to present the results that I had been working so hard on for three years and discuss their implications for chemistry in space with leading experts in the field.”
When asked about the most enjoyable part of his PhD studies, Duncan replied “The people! I had the opportunity to work with some fantastically brilliant physicists, chemists, and geologists who not only taught me a lot, but were also fundamentally wonderful to be around.”
Above is a picture of Duncan with his Supervisor Prof. Nigel Mason (left) and one of his supervisors at Atomki Dr Béla Sulik (right).
Duncan will be pursuing a post-doctoral research position at Atomki, which he will take up later this year.