David Birch Wins 2020 Dennis Gabor Medal and Prize

Founding Director of HORIBA Jobin Yvon IBH Awarded For Pioneering the UK Fluorescence Lifetime Industry

Piscataway, NJ – December 8th, 2020  HORIBA Scientific, global leader in measurement and analysis solutions for research and industry, and world leader in fluorescence solutions, is proud to announce that David Birch, PhD., was awarded the 2020 Dennis Gabor Award by the Institute of Physics (IOP). 

Dr. Birch is an Emeritus Professor of Photophysics at the University of Strathclyde and a founding Director of HORIBA Jobin Yvon IBH Ltd., one of the earliest corporate spin offs in Scotland. His contributions in the fluorescence sector included research on techniques, multi-disciplinary applications and developing instrumentation for measuring fluorescence lifetimes, including the TCSPC (Time-correlated Single-Photon Counting) technique.

The Dennis Gabor Medal, named for the inventor of holography and 1971 Nobel Prize winner, is awarded for distinguished contributions to the application of physics in industry.

As Chairman at IBH, Dr. Birch pioneered TCSPC fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy and his recent research has focused on the application of fluorescence to molecular grand challenges at the biomedical interface. He championed the merger of IBH and HORIBA, solidifying HORIBA’s leading fluorescence market share.

Dr. Birch has published over 250 peer-reviewed journal articles, and his contributions to research and new products have been recognized through Fellowships of the IOP, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Royal Society of Chemistry and Visiting Chairs at Texas Christian University, Kyoto Institute of Technology, the Czech Technical University and the University of Madras. Presently he is co-founding Editor-in-Chief of IOP’s Methods and Applications in Fluorescence.

“I am very honored to receive the award,” said Dr Birch. “It provides further evidence of HORIBA’s leadership in fluorescence and represents not only my success over many years but also that of many wonderful colleagues in HORIBA, IBH and the University of Strathclyde.”

“We are extremely proud of David’s accomplishments and recognition in the fluorescence community,” said Dr. Sal Atzeni, Executive Vice President of HORIBA Scientific.  “His work over many decades brought the techniques of fluorescence lifetime measurement and its applications to fundamental biophysical research to laboratories all over the world.  Similar to the comparison of X-Ray to MRI, the fluorescence lifetime technique allows researchers to observe molecular properties and interactions on ultrafast timescales, critical to the understanding of protein / drug interactions, biophysics, materials science and photophysics.  As HORIBA, we are very honored to work with David and the entire IBH team. Congratulations, David, on this prestigious Award!“

About HORIBA Scientific

HORIBA Scientific, part of HORIBA Instruments Incorporated, headquartered in the United States, provides an extensive array of instruments and solutions for applications across a broad range of scientific R&D and QC measurements. HORIBA Scientific is a world leader in OEM Spectroscopy, elemental analysis, fluorescence (including the PTI brand), forensics, GDS, ICP, particle characterization, Raman, spectroscopic ellipsometry, sulfur-in-oil, SPRi and water quality measurements, as well as XRF.

Our instruments are found in universities and industries around the world. Proven quality and trusted performance have established widespread confidence in the HORIBA Brand.

HORIBA supplies over 500 types of scientific analyzers to universities, research institutions, various manufacturing industries and the government. In some of the most advanced science and technologies, HORIBA provides multi-faceted data solutions for what are niche markets – assisting the most cutting-edge research in the tackling of uncharted territories.

Building on a long tradition of pursuing innovative technology to advance scientific efforts, HORIBA Instruments Incorporated has acquired and assimilated renowned companies such as Société Générale d’Optique (1969), SPEX (1988), Dilor (1995), SOFIE (1996), Jobin Yvon (1997), IBH (2003), GenOptics (2009), and Photon Technology International (2014).

The HORIBA Group is a global company that offers solutions and engineering services, based on our strong performance in developing and manufacturing instruments and products in the analysis and measurement fields. With “Explore the Future” as its brand message, HORIBA has been pursuing state-of-the-art analysis and measurement technology since its establishment in 1945. Founded in the historic city of Kyoto, Japan, it has grown steadily throughout its 75 years of business and is now providing services worldwide as the leader in the analysis technology field. 

We engage in five different business segments with high value-added products and services: Automotive Test Systems, Medical-Diagnostic Instruments and Systems, Semiconductor Instruments and Systems, Scientific Instruments and Systems, and Process and Environmental Instruments and Systems. We have established an optimal number of business bases in Japan, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

 

Media Contacts
Joanne Lowy
Joanne.lowy(at)horiba.com
Marketing Supervisor HORIBA Scientific
HORIBA Instruments, Incorporated
20 Knightsbridge Road,
Piscataway, NJ 08854
732‐494‐8660 ext. 8142 / Direct Line: 732‐623‐8142

David Birch
David Birch Wins 2020 Dennis Gabor Medal and Prize