International Recognition for Dr. Dirk Hauschild: VUVX Conference Award for Mid-Career Scientists

Dr. Dirk Hauschild has been awarded the VUVX Conference Award for Mid-Career Scientists at the International Conference on Vacuum Ultraviolet and X-ray Physics (VUVX 2026), held in Uppsala, Sweden, from 22–26 June 2026. The VUVX Conference brings together scientists from all over the world, working in fields involving electromagnetic radiation in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV), soft X-ray and hard X-ray spectral regions, providing a forum for discussing the latest advances in instrumentation, methods development, fundamental science, as well as applications in a variety of fields. 

Within this framework, the VUVX Conference Award for Mid-Career Scientists is granted to a researcher who has made significant contributions to the field over the past twelve years. The award committee specifically recognized Dr. Dirk Hauschild’s "advances in x-ray and electron spectroscopies of functional materials, enabling unprecedented insights into buried interfaces, electronic structure, and performance-limiting processes in next-generation solar cells." 

In his work, Dr. Hauschild is developing electron and x-ray spectroscopies significantly beyond “standard” characterization of real-world materials. A few of his recognized research highlights are:
-    Establishing the use of reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) as a novel approach to study optical properties, including the band gap, of chalcopyrite thin-film solar cells in a surface-sensitive way, which is crucial to understand and optimize device properties. [1]
-    Analyzing the inelastic scattering background in hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) as a new approach for depth-resolved investigations with depth sensitivities up to an order of magnitude larger than available from the unscattered signal. [2]
-    Using soft x-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy (XAS and XES) as well as resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) for the investigation of hybrid inorganic/organic next-generation solar cells. The study of these extremely radiation-sensitive materials requires novel high-transmission soft x-ray instrumentation together with systematic protocols to monitor and minimize radiation damage. [3]

[1] D. Hauschild et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 8, 21101-21105 (2016). (DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b06358)
[2] D. Hauschild et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 39, 063216 (2021). (DOI: 10.1116/6.0001336), Special Collection Commemorating the Career of Charles S. Fadley.
[3] D. Hauschild et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 13, 53202-53210 (2021). (DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c15707)