Two Physics students from the Department of Physics, Mr. Billy Oyomo and Mr. Charles Rotich, have secured international academic opportunities through the University’s partnership with the University of Cantabria, Spain, under the Erasmus+ Programme.
Mr. Oyomo has been awarded a fully funded three-year PhD scholarship at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, while Mr. Rotich, a Master's student in Physics, has secured a five-month research exchange programme at the University of Cantabria, Spain.
The University's partnership with the University of Cantabria, the Erasmus+ Programme has been in place since 2022. The partnership has created valuable opportunities for student mobility, research collaboration and academic exchange. Through this partnership, the two students participated in a student exchange programme in Spain last year.
It was during this exchange that Mr. Oyomo established a professional relationship with a professor at the University of Cantabria, who later joined Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The academic connection ultimately paved the way for his fully funded PhD scholarship.
At Nanyang Technological University, Mr. Oyomo will pursue research in Computational Condensed Matter Physics, a field that uses computational methods to study the structural, electrical and optical properties of solid materials at the atomic scale. The research seeks to explain the behaviour of solids and contributes to the development of advanced materials by enhancing or modifying their physical properties.
Expressing his excitement ahead of the programme, Mr. Oyomo said he hopes to broaden his academic horizon while contributing to scientific advancement in Kenya.
"I look forward to having a different experience, building academic networks, interacting with scholars and gaining more research experience. I would like to come back home and develop local capacities in computational science."
Speaking during the farewell ceremony, the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology, Prof. George Amollo, congratulated the two students, describing their achievements as a testament to their dedication, discipline and commitment to research.
"The students have done a commendable job. They have interacted with researchers, learnt the culture of conducting research, developed patience, and their upbringing has also contributed to this success. The demand is huge, and it requires commitment to excel in this field."
Prof. Amollo noted that the two students had also served as Research Assistants under the Africa-UK Physics Partnership Project, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). He said the experience had played a significant role in strengthening their research skills and preparing them for international academic opportunities.