Last month, at an award ceremony in the Globe of Science and Innovation, the recipients of the 2019 ATLAS PhD Grant – Ana Peixoto (Portugal), Giulia Rovelli (Italy) and Rongkun Wang (China) – were celebrated in the presence of CERN & Society donors and members of the ATLAS community
The ATLAS PhD Grant offers students a unique opportunity to enhance their studies in a top-notch research environment under the supervision and training of ATLAS collaboration experts. It was established by former ATLAS spokespersons Fabiola Gianotti and Peter Jenni, using the award money from the Fundamental Physics Prize that they received in 2013. The 2019 grant was supported by a new donor: Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd.
“When Fabiola and I first received the Prize money, it was immediately clear to us that we wanted to give something special back to ATLAS,” explained Peter Jenni, speaking at the award ceremony. “We not only wanted to offer a financial stepping-stone for young students, but also to provide a unique academic opportunity based at CERN.”
Thanks to the CERN & Society Foundation and its donors, the ATLAS PhD Grant programme continues to empower the next generation of scientists. “The grant has supported some 15 students so far, all of them sharing the same hope for a career in particle physics,” said CERN Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti. “I remember thinking as an undergraduate student that if I got a PhD fellowship, I would aim for a career in particle physics, otherwise I would have looked for another career path. So, I know from my own experience that a PhD grant can really change your life.”
During the ceremony, Peter Jenni and Gérard Felley, of Lombard Odier, presented the recipients with certificates. Through their new partnership with the CERN & Society Foundation, Lombard Odier has committed to the financial support, over the next three years, of six talented ATLAS PhD students. Of this year’s recipients, two are directly supported by Lombard Odier.