LEADING Oxford University academics have scooped awards for their work.

In the inaugural Blavatnik Awards for young scientists, Professor Andrew L. Goodwin won $100,000 for his work in chemistry and Professor Henry Snaith won the same amount for his work in the physical sciences and engineering.

Professor Goodwin is a world leader in the chemistry and physics of functional materials, which have unique magnetic, optical and electrical properties.

He has focussed his work on revealing the role of structural disorder in these materials and how this phenomenon can explain unique material properties such asnegative thermal expansion and negative compressibility.

Professor Snaith’s work has developed new, low-cost and high-efficiency solar cells. Thanks to his work, there is now the potential to deliver solar energy at a fraction of the cost of currently used materials.

Physical chemist Professor Philipp Kukura, also from Oxford University, was named a finalist in the chemistry category and has won $30,000.

Sir Leonard Blavatnik, head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation, said: “Through the promise that they have already demonstrated, we are confident they will continue pushing the boundaries of discovery and innovation. The community of previous Blavatnik Awards honourees is an incredible group.”