Sam Stranks

Sam Stranks is a Professor of Energy Materials & Optoelectronics at the University of Cambridge, with affiliations to the Cavendish Laboratory and Clare College. He leads the Strankslab, focusing on emerging semiconductors for low-cost electronics, and co-founded startups Swift Solar (perovskite PV) and Sustain/Ed (climate education). He serves as Associate Editor for Science Advances and editorial board member for multiple journals.

• Education: University of Adelaide (BA, BSc Hons, 2007); Oxford University (DPhil, 2012, Rhodes Scholar).

His research explores optical and electronic properties of halide perovskites, organic semiconductors, and carbon allotropes to advance photovoltaics, LEDs, and X-ray detectors. By integrating multimodal microscopy and spectroscopy, he uncovers degradation mechanisms and performance bottlenecks, guiding material design and device architectures.

Recent publications highlight his work on nanoscale phase impurities, interfacial stability in perovskites, and AI-driven degradation tracking in LEDs. Awards include the Henry Moseley Medal (2018), Marlow Award (2019), IEEE Wenham Prize (2021), and Lem Prize (2022). His lab has secured over £23M in funding from ERC, EPSRC, and Royal Society.

• Scientific Awards:
  • IUPAP Young Scientist in Semiconductor Physics (2016)
  • European Physical Society Early Career Prize (2017)
  • Henry Moseley Medal & Prize (2018)
  • Marlow Award (2019)
  • IEEE Stuart Wenham Young Professional Award (2021)
  • Leverhulme Prize in Physics (2021)
  • EES Lectureship (2021)
  • Lem Prize (2022)
  • Blavatnik Awards Finalist (2024)

Sam’s group has spun out Clarity Sensors for medical X-ray detectors and collaborates globally on projects like EU’s "Fuel from the Sun" artificial leaves. He emphasizes public engagement and diversity in science, with outreach featured in The Conversation and podcasts.