NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials alum Dr. Vytautas Navikas has been awarded one of the two 2022 Chorafas Prizes for the best doctoral thesis at Lausanne’s Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL). Navikas completed his PhD thesis on “Biophysical applications of correlative scanning probe and super-resolution microscopy” as a member of NCCR Principal Investigator Prof. Aleksandra Radenovic’s Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology.

Navikas was awarded the prize for “his outstanding contributions to the development of novel correlative single-molecule imaging and single-molecule spectroscopy methods.” His thesis focused on advancing state-of-the-art correlative scanning ion-conductance microscopy combined with novel super-resolution imaging techniques. His research demonstrated various technological advancements for both imaging modalities, as well as experimental proof-of-principle studies.

The Dimitris N. Chorafas Foundation awards scientific prizes for outstanding work in selected fields in the engineering sciences, medicine, and the natural sciences. It rewards research characterized by its high potential for practical application and by the special significance attached to its possible future use.  Every year, partner universities in Europe, North America and Asia evaluate the research work of their graduating Ph.D. students and nominate the best for the award. The Foundation awards the prize, worth $5,000 (CHF 5,000), to the best doctoral student(s) at each partner university, of which there are three in Switzerland: the University of Fribourg, and the Federal Institutes of the Technology in Zurich and Lausanne (ETHZ and EPFL).

Source: EPFL Dimitris N. Chorafas Foundation Award - 2022 - Vytautas Navikas

Photo: EPFL

Research article in Nature Communications: Correlative 3D microscopy of single cells using super-resolution and scanning ion-conductance microscopy