Celebrating USMC’s first PhD
THE University of Southampton Malaysia graduated its first PhD student, Sam Fishlock, after he successfully completed his thesis titled “Development of nanocrystalline graphite for MEMS and membranes”.
THE TRAILBLAZER
The PhD thesis explores nanocrystalline graphite (nanographite) in thin films. Nanographite is a new type of carbon material with potential applications in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and gas separation membranes.
The result of his thesis will enable researchers to design MEMS using nanographite, which could open up new possibilities for various types of applications in the future. On his chosen topic of research, Fishlock said: “Nanographite is interesting because it can be made very thin – just a nanometre or two – and it can be used at very high temperatures.”
MASTERFUL GUIDANCE
During his study, Fishlock was under the primary guidance of the University of Southampton Malaysia Campus’s assistant professor, Prof Dr Suan Hui Pu and CEO Prof John McBride. He spent the first year of his education at the University of Southampton Malaysia Campus, the second year at the Highfield, UK campus and his final two years at A*STAR IMRE, Singapore. Supervising him at the UK campus was Dr Harold Chong and Dr Sean O’Shea at A*STAR IMRE.
Fishlock will now be based in Singapore. He will continue studying the same broad area of materials and MEMS.
“We are very proud of Sam and all of our PhD and undergraduate students here at our Malaysia campus,” said Suan. “Sam put in huge amounts of sacrifice and effort in his studies and it was a great experience to guide him along the way.”
ISKANDAR MALAYSIA CAMPUS
The University of Southampton Malaysia was established in 2012. It graduated its first batch of graduates last summer. The Malaysia campus offers world-class engineering programmes that include MEng in Mechanical Engineering, MEng Aeronautics & Astronautics, MEng Electrical & Electronic Engineering and Engineering Foundation Year.
The university enables students to spend their first two years in Malaysia, followed with two final years at a research-centred university in the UK.