The Infrared and Raman Discussion Group (IRDG) Chalmers and Dent Student Travel Award will be presented to Matthew Berry at SciX 2021, taking place in Providence, Rhode Island, September 26–October 1. The Chalmers and Dent Student Travel Award recognizes an outstanding PhD student through financial support to present their research to an international audience at the annual SciX meeting. The award is named after two previous chairs of the IRDG, John Chalmers and Geoff Dent, in recognition of their continuing support for the IRDG and for their support of students and early career researchers. Throughout their careers, Chalmers and Dent have been highly active in the development and promotion of the vibrational spectroscopists of the future in academia and industry through mentoring, encouragement, and inspiration.
Matthew Berry
Berry’s interest in research involving the application of spectroscopic techniques and nanotechnology to solve biological problems influenced his decision to study for a PhD. In September 2018, he joined the OPTIMA Centre for Doctoral Training to begin a joint center PhD program in Optical Medical Imaging between the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland) and the University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Scotland) with an integrated master’s in healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the University of Edinburgh Business School. He currently works under the supervision of Professors Karen Faulds and Duncan Graham in the Centre for Molecular Nanometrology at the University of Strathclyde, where he is researching the development of surface-enhanced spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SESORS) for optical medical imaging applications.
Berry uses SESORS to image multiple bacteria simultaneously within 3D printed models through tissue via their specific interaction with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) active nanotags within SESORS spectra and images. The goal of his PhD is to broaden the applications of SESORS imaging and gain a deeper understanding of the technique to bring it closer to use in a medical setting.
AI and Dual-Sensor Spectroscopy Supercharge Antibiotic Fermentation
June 30th 2025Researchers from Chinese universities have developed an AI-powered platform that combines near-infrared (NIR) and Raman spectroscopy for real-time monitoring and control of antibiotic production, boosting efficiency by over 30%.
Toward a Generalizable Model of Diffuse Reflectance in Particulate Systems
June 30th 2025This tutorial examines the modeling of diffuse reflectance (DR) in complex particulate samples, such as powders and granular solids. Traditional theoretical frameworks like empirical absorbance, Kubelka-Munk, radiative transfer theory (RTT), and the Hapke model are presented in standard and matrix notation where applicable. Their advantages and limitations are highlighted, particularly for heterogeneous particle size distributions and real-world variations in the optical properties of particulate samples. Hybrid and emerging computational strategies, including Monte Carlo methods, full-wave numerical solvers, and machine learning (ML) models, are evaluated for their potential to produce more generalizable prediction models.