The RACI Polymer Division is delighted to announce that the 2026 Recipients of the Jim O’Donnell International Travel Award are Yihan Shi (UTS) and Lachlan Alexander (Monash University).

Yihan is completing a PhD in environmental engineering at UTS, investigating functional hydrogels and organogels for water management and desalination applications. Lachlan is completing a PhD in polymer chemistry at Monash, investigating automation in polymer materials discovery. Both Yihan and Lachlan will use funding from the O’Donnell award to travel overseas as part of their PhD candidature, to visit international collaborators, build research connections, and attend major international polymer and materials meetings.

The division thanks all applicants for the large number of high quality applicants, and congratulates Yihan and Lachlan on their success!

The polymer division, through the O’Donnell award, is committed to supporting HDR candidates in polymer science and engineering engage in international collaborative travel and knowledge exchange. You can read more about the award here.