The winner of the 2023 Harry Leck Memorial Medal is Dr Graham Rogers, Leybold Vacuum.  Presentation of the Medal will be made during the VS12 Welcome Reception starting at 5:30pm on Tuesday 13th June 2023.

Dr Graham Rogers read Chemistry at Hertford College Oxford.  He went on to undertake a D.Phil., studying the effects of using high energy light pulses to produce free radical species under high vacuum conditions.  His supervisor was Prof Mike Pilling.  The rates of recombination of these species were determined using computational techniques.  In addition, it was observed that some initial species underwent secondary photolysis, leading to unexpected products and novel reaction paths.

After leaving Oxford, Graham joined the GEC Research Centre where he ran a small group investigating the commercial feasibility of Micro-electromechanical systems or MEMs products using traditional vacuum deposition techniques.  Products developed included solid state humidity and specific gas sensors.  He then became responsible for the Furnace and Deposition Group within the Prototype Semiconductor Division.  Processes studied included high temperature oxidation and thin film insulating materials undertaken under medium and high vacuum conditions.  Key films studied and developed included Silicon Nitride and Boron Phosphorus oxides.

He then joined Electrotech, a leading semiconductor OEM, to lead a team fabricating bespoke films for both R&D and the Production Semiconductor Market.

Graham joined Leybold Vacuum UK Ltd in 1990 and has gained extensive experience across the world of vacuum, having been involved in the detailed specification and technical selling of the complete range of products, principally for Leybold, over the past 30 years.  He has in-depth knowledge of the metallurgy, chemical, analytical, R&D and semiconductor sectors, and has had a passion for helping customers in solving problems and developing solutions that will bring real process improvements and value.

Since 2017 Graham has been resident Consultant for Leybold, whereby he has been able to share his knowledge and insight through the vacuum academy training, delivering courses to customers across the UK, focussing on both vacuum technology and leak detection.  His training courses have been appropriate for those new to vacuum as well as the more experienced.  During 2021 he brought his experience online and is one of the key contributors to the Leybold Power of Vacuum blog series: https://www.leybold.com/en-uk/knowledge/blog