Tiago Silva distinguished with the PSE Early Career Award 2026
Tiago Silva, a researcher in the N-PRiME/IPFN group, has been distinguished with the PSE Early Career Award 2026, awarded in the framework of the Plasma Surface Engineering Conference, organised by the European Joint Committee on Plasma and Ion Surface Engineering (EJC/PISE) in cooperation with the European Society of Thin Films EFDS.
The award recognises outstanding young researchers in Plasma Surface Engineering or related fields who, within ten years of completing their most recent degree, have demonstrated active engagement in scientific collaborations, journals, or societies. The prize consists of a trophy and a certificate and will be formally presented during the PSE 2026 Conference, which will take place from 31 August to 3 September at the Congress Center Erfurt, Germany.
Tiago Silva’s research focuses on plasma physics and its applications to sustainability, particularly the use of non-thermal plasmas to drive chemical transformations relevant to the energy transition. Over the past few years, he has worked on topics such as CO₂ conversion, the valorisation of greenhouse gases, and the development of computational models to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying these processes.
Part of this work has been carried out within the framework of the PARADiSE — PlasmA RoAD to Solar Fuels project, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), which aims to convert CO₂ into solar fuels using plasma technologies.
According to Tiago, receiving this award from EJC/PISE is “a great honour and a source of immense satisfaction”, whilst representing “important international recognition of the work developed over recent years, the collective effort that made it possible and the scientific collaborations” that have shaped his research career.
The researcher notes that “the distinction recognises the work developed at N-PRiME, as well as the contribution of students, collaborators, and national and international partners”. Among these collaborations, he highlights the long-standing scientific relationship with the Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (LPP) in France, as well as the establishment of new research partnerships with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, within the scope of the MIT Portugal Program and other international cooperation initiatives promoted by FCT.
“I hope this distinction will also help strengthen the visibility of the research developed at IPFN and Técnico, as well as highlight the role that plasma science and engineering can play in addressing some of today’s major challenges in the fields of sustainability, energy, and the environment”, adds Tiago Silva.
Congratulations, Tiago!
More information about the PSE awards is available at:
https://pse-conferences.net/home/pse-awards/
