Poster Prize Winners of CogniGron's Research Away Day 2025

From dynamic domain walls to probabilistic pathways between brain and device, CogniGron’s Research Away Day 2025 highlighted the remarkable breadth and creativity of its PhD community. Among the highlights was the awarding of this year’s coveted Poster Prizes.

Memoona’s Ferroelectric Vision for the Future of Memory

Memoona Ismail's winning poster, "Domain walls dynamics of ferroelectric oxides for memory applications", stood out for its clarity, scientific depth, and forward-looking impact. Her research explores how ferroelectric thin films, engineered to exist near phase transitions regardless of temperature, can be harnessed to observe and control topological states.

These dynamic behaviours hold enormous promise for neuromorphic computing, particularly in the development of next-generation memristive devices. By pushing the boundaries of how materials can adapt and self-organise near phase transitions, Memoona’s work contributes to a future where computing systems are more efficient, responsive, and energy-aware. The UEF board was especially impressed by the clarity and enthusiasm with which Memoona explained the scientific and technological significance of her work.

From Brain to Device: Bayesian Reasoning and Material Modelling

The second poster prize went to a collaborative project with a truly cross-disciplinary spirit. "Posterior Paths: MCMC from Brain to Device" showcased the joint research of Leah Dijkshoorn and Albert Silvans, who each use Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) methods to explore very different scientific frontiers.

Leah, working at the intersection of statistics and AI, focuses on Bayesian Networks (BNs), which are probabilistic graphical models that mimic how the brain handles uncertainty. Her innovative framework for learning the structure of discrete BNs under incomplete data uses MCMC not just for statistical rigour, but also for graceful navigation of uncertainty, a hallmark of both biological and artificial intelligence.

Albert, meanwhile, applies MCMC to the physical world, developing statistical models that characterise how SNO/LSMO electronic devices respond to electrical stimuli. His proposed model, praised for its statistical power, aims to decode the underlying physics of device behaviour, thanks to rich experimental data provided through collaboration with Beatriz Noheda and Foelke Janssen.

Leah and Albert’s poster was celebrated for its thoughtful design and the seamless synergy between their methods, despite differing applications. Their collaboration exemplifies CogniGron’s belief that the most exciting discoveries often happen at the intersections of disciplines.

Congratulations to all three winners for their inspiring work and engaging presentations. We can’t wait to see where your research takes us next.