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IC Prize 2025 – Honouring Outstanding International Research and Engagement

The IC Prize of the International Club was awarded once again in 2025 during the festive President’s Dinner at the University of Bayreuth.

The prize recognises early-career researchers who combine academic excellence with international engagement and social commitment.

Dr Heyou Zhang – IC Prize Laureate 2025

This year’s IC Prize was awarded to Dr Heyou Zhang, postdoctoral researcher at the Chair of Spectroscopy of Soft Matter at the University of Bayreuth, headed by Prof. Dr Jürgen Köhler.

Dr Zhang conducts outstanding research at the interface of optical physics and materials science. During his doctoral studies at the University of Melbourne, he contributed significantly to the development of Surface Templated Electrophoretic Deposition (STEPD), a novel technique that allows the precise positioning of individual nanoparticles. This method opens up new perspectives for the design of metamaterials, nanolasers and advanced sensor platforms.

At the University of Bayreuth, Dr Zhang continued his highly innovative work and achieved a remarkable scientific milestone: he was involved in the world’s first experimental realisation of a purely optical logic gate, operating entirely with light instead of electronic signals. This achievement represents an important step towards future optical information processing technologies.

International Perspective and Commitment to the Academic Community

In addition to his scientific achievements, Dr Zhang is highly committed to supporting young researchers. As a tutor and mentor, he actively assists international doctoral candidates, helping them navigate both academic challenges and the transition to research life in Germany.

Through his international experience, scientific excellence and dedication to fostering an inclusive research environment, Dr Zhang exemplifies the core values of the International Club.

A Special Moment for the International Club

With the IC Prize 2025, the International Club continues its tradition of honouring exceptional young scholars at the University of Bayreuth whose work strengthens international exchange and academic cooperation. Established in 2018, the IC Prize is awarded annually and is accompanied by a monetary award.

We warmly congratulate Dr Heyou Zhang on receiving the IC Prize 2025 and wish him continued success in his academic career.