Our annual Department Contribution Awards are an opportunity to recognise the ideas, hard work and collaboration that strengthens our community and helps make our department a great place to work and study.
All staff are eligible to be nominated, and all staff are invited to make nominations.
The awards celebrate the many ways colleagues contribute to our shared aims with care, imagination and commitment, with categories for research, teaching and student experience, sustainability, and inspiring contribution.
Celebrating our 2025 Award Winners
Award for Research or Research Support
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Winner: Constantinos Charalambous
Nomination:
“Constantinos' work on the Science paper on Deep Martian Mantle Heterogeneities demonstrates just how far the Department’s reach has extended. His work has taken us, literally, to another planet, and more importantly, to a fundamental new understanding of how a planet can preserve the record of its formation.
His leadership in combining novel sensors designed and built within our department with advanced signal-processing and AI-driven techniques enabled a discovery that the more established planetary-science community had not yet reached. This success highlights the growing power, ambition and scientific breadth of EEE at Imperial, and Constantinos has been at the centre of that momentum”.
Award for Sustainability
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Winner: May Tang
Nomination:
“Long before sustainability became a widely recognised priority, May was already considering its importance and proactively implementing measures to reduce wastage. Her forward-thinking approach set an example for others and showed a clear dedication to making a positive impact through practical actions aimed at minimising unnecessary waste. She played a key role in securing the lab's recent Bronze LEAF sustainability award, contributing both through the initiatives she implemented and by actively supporting the application process”.
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Runner-up: Zia Rahman
Nomination:
“We were delighted when Zia was able to refurbish our two study areas with all recycled furniture from another department. Our rooms had looked dated and cluttered, but they now look modern and clean. Zia also offered us some moss wall art which would have been thrown away, but he kept it alive and it will soon be enhancing our new kitchenette which is also furnished with recycled tables and chairs. You would never know that this had all been pre-loved. Zia takes pride in offering the best of what he can find without the price tag and to save waste”.
Award for Teaching or Teaching Support
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Winner: Tim Constandinou
Nomination:
“Tim exemplifies the highest standards of supervision, teaching, and genuine care for his students. Across MSc and PhD levels, Tim creates an environment where students feel supported, trusted, and are encouraged to grow, striking a rare balance between independence and steady, thoughtful guidance. He is consistently available, approachable, and compassionate, whether helping students navigate academic challenges, crises of confidence, or personal difficulties, and he treats every student with respect, dignity, and unwavering belief in their potential. His teaching, particularly in full-custom IC design, is rigorous, practical, and widely admired, shaping students into confident engineers while fostering a strong, inclusive research culture that many describe as a ‘home away from home’”.
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Runner-up: Stores – Hisham Maarki and Victor Iswa
Nomination:
“The Stores is an essential resource to the EE students and gets particularly busy during student project times. The team is dedicated to ensuring the student get their goods as quick as possible, to ensure their projects are not delayed. The student experience, particularly during project times, would not be the same without the work and dedication of Hish and Vic and all the services they manage efficiently in the Stores”.
Inspiring Contribution Award
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Joint Winner: Christos Bouganis
Nomination:
“I would like to nominate our DUGS for the award for teaching and student support. He has done an outstanding job supporting student learning within our department. I am especially motivated to nominate him now because of the steps he has taken to support students with learning difficulties and to ensure that our teaching practices are inclusive. He genuinely cares about students and about their learning. Although we do not always agree, I appreciate that he consistently advocates for students and prioritizes their needs”.
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Joint Winner: Kelly Greenwood
Nomination:
“Kelly is an insightful and invaluable member of the PTO team. Her role can take an emotional toll, as it requires a daily commitment to supporting students without absorbing the weight of their struggles. Kelly approaches every student with empathy, kindness, and practical guidance.
Her dedication to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background, is truly exceptional. All of this she accomplishes while pursuing her PhD, a remarkable achievement.
Kelly stands out as a uniquely strong and compassionate team member, one we are fortunate to have”.
About the Awards
1. Department Award for Research / Research Support
This category recognises excellent contributions to research and scholarship across all roles — through research achievements, innovative technical or administrative systems, or exceptional support that enables research to flourish.
- £250 individual winner | £100 runner-up
- £100 per person Team winners | £50 per person Team runners-up
2. Department Award for Teaching / Student Support
This award celebrates excellence and innovation in teaching and student support, recognising individuals whose work makes a significant contribution to teaching and learning and the wider student experience.
- £250 individual winner | £100 runner-up
- £100 per person Team winners | £50 per person Team runners-up
3. Department Award for Sustainability
This award recognises individuals or teams who demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability — through initiatives that reduce emissions, improve efficiency, or embed sustainable practices in their work. Whether leading a project or consistently championing environmental responsibility, nominees should show clear and lasting impact.
- £250 individual winner | £100 runner-up
- £100 per person Team winners | £50 per person Team runners-up
4. Inspiring Contribution Award
This award honours individuals who have made an inspiring contribution to department life or the wider community. This may include leadership in equality, diversity and inclusion, positive cultural impact, community engagement, or exceptional teamwork. Nominees should embody the spirit of inspiration — encouraging others to think differently, do better, or contribute more positively. The award may also recognise those who have made a lasting difference through steady, behind-the-scenes dedication over many years.
- £250 per winner (up to two winners)
Best Practice Guidelines
In terms of best practice, we will implement the following procedures to ensure that the nomination and award process remains fair, balanced, and transparent:
- The composition of the judging panel is important. It will include representatives from different staff groups, job levels, and families to promote a balanced discussion.
- Panel members will be briefed on confidentiality and must not share any details of nominations outside the judging process.
- If a panel member is nominated, they will withdraw from the room while their nomination is reviewed and discussed, ensuring impartiality.
- When announcing the awards, the nomination citation will be read to highlight the reasons for each recipient’s recognition.
Additional notes
- The judging panel may move nominees between categories if this better reflects their contribution or balances the number of entries. This may result in additional prizes being awarded.
- These awards are entirely separate from the annual pay review process.
- Nominations can be submitted anonymously if preferred.
- A member of staff may submit multiple nominations.
- Each nomination should include sufficient detail to allow fair consideration.
- Winners will be announced at the end of year party
