News and events

Hip Op Awards ...

A PhD student at the University of Huddersfield has become one of only 24 winners in the UK of the highly-prestigious Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad.

Hongyu Zhang, a PhD student in the University’s Centre for Precision Technologies, was named one of just 300 winners worldwide of the top award on the strength of his research into lengthening the life of total hip replacement.

The common reasons for total hip replacement are conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Such problems are usually caused by excessive loading on the hip joint, and general wear and tear.

Hongyu’s research looks at the fretting wear mechanism at the femoral stem-cement interface of the hip prosthesis, and how fretting wear develops on the femoral stem surface. Reducing the generation of fretting wear would possibly increase the lifespan of the hip prosthesis.

The Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad, which includes a $5000 cash prize, recognises leading Chinese students undertaking full-time research abroad leading to a PhD in all areas of study. Only 24 students were selected in the UK this year.

Says Hongyu: "I was very happy to win this award because throughout China it is held in the highest regard and is one of the most prestigious awards that an overseas student can receive. I am very pleased that my research is considered of such high quality and value, particularly because as so few students are awarded the prize. I am extremely grateful to my supervisors, Professor Liam Blunt and Professor Xiangqian Xiang, for all their support."