The Prex Predoctoral Fellowships welcome a third researcher to the program

The third beneficiary of the Prex Predoctoral Fellowships started his PhD thesis at the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC) in July. Xiaoqun Shi is the last person to join the program in its first call, within the María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence and funded by the State Research Agency. The other two fellows, Andrea Sanchís Moltó and Sandra Pérez Jiménez, started their predoctoral research last February.

These scholarships aim to enhance the research training of young talent by joining high-impact research projects. The contracts will focus on research activities aligned with the priority research lines developed within the strategic plans and programs funded under the CEX2023 calls, thereby strengthening the institute’s commitment to scientific excellence and the generation of cutting-edge knowledge. The first call was launched in 2025 and the second one will open later this year.

Xiaoqun Shi is joining the Power Devices and Systems Group at IMB-CNM to pursue his PhD in the field of micro- and nanoelectronic technologies. His thesis, Development and Reliability of Gallium Oxide Ultra-Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Devices for Power Electronics, will focus on the development and characterization of gallium oxide-based ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor devices for high-power and high-efficiency electronic applications.

This research aims to address key challenges in next-generation power electronics, particularly device performance, stability, and reliability under demanding operating conditions. By combining materials understanding, device engineering, and electrical characterization, the project seeks to contribute to the development of more robust and efficient semiconductor technologies. Amador Eduardo Pérez Tomás and Xavier Perpiñà Giribet will serve as thesis directors, and Gabriel Abadal Berini as UAB (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) tutor.

Xiaoqun is an Undergradute in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Sheffield  (United Kingdom) and has a MPhil in Materials Science and Engineering at the same University, with a research focused on lithium-rich, high-nickel cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.