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An undergraduate student from the Department of Chemical Engineering has received two prestigious honours at the UK Engineering Talent Awards 2026, including the highest award presented at the ceremony.

Defne Nihal Ertugrul was awarded the Overall Excellence in Engineering award, the highest honour of the evening, recognising outstanding achievement across all 14 individual and organisational award categories.

She was also named the winner of the Engineering Student of the Year award.

The awards, organised by , celebrate engineering and technology talent across the UK. The ceremony took place on Friday 9 October 2026 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City, bringing together individuals and organisations recognised for their contributions to the engineering sector.

Recognising outstanding student achievement

Defne's achievements are particularly significant because she received both the Engineering Student of the Year award and the Overall Excellence in Engineering award, the top honour presented at the ceremony.

Her talent, dedication, and success as an undergraduate are truly inspiring, and she is a wonderful ambassador for our department. Professor Jason Hallett Head of the Department

Professor Jason Hallett, Head of Department, Chemical Engineering, said: “We are immensely proud of Defne’s outstanding achievement in winning both awards. Her talent, dedication, and success as an undergraduate are truly inspiring, and she is a wonderful ambassador for our department.”

The recognition highlights her achievements as a Chemical Engineering student, and her wider involvement in research and leadership opportunities.

Alongside her studies at º£½ÇÉçÇø, Defne is a Laidlaw Scholar and a UN Millennium Fellow. She has also undertaken research as an Undergraduate Research Fellow at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). These experiences reflect her engagement with opportunities beyond the classroom, combining her academic studies with research and wider initiatives.

A memorable evening

For Defne, receiving two awards in the same evening came as a surprise.

Still a bit of a shock, honestly. Thank you to everyone at º£½ÇÉçÇø. Defne Nihal Ertugrul Department of Chemical Engineering third-year undergraduate student

Defne added “I hadn’t really taken in Engineering Student of the Year when they called my name again for Overall Excellence. Still a bit of a shock, honestly. Thank you to everyone at Imperiawho has supported me.”

Her success marks an important achievement in her academic journey and highlights the opportunities available to students to develop their skills, pursue research and contribute to the wider engineering community.

Celebrating our student community

The provide an opportunity to recognise individuals and organisations making valuable contributions to engineering and technology across the UK.

At the same awards, Diya Agrawal, Department of Chemical Engineering PhD student, was also shortlisted for the Engineering Student of the Year 2026, alongside Defne. Diya is an extremely active member of the student community, and amongst her many activities, leads the departmental podcast, . 

Both Defne and Diya's nominations represent an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our students and their contributions, both within and beyond º£½ÇÉçÇø. This recognition reflects the range of experiences students bring to their studies, from academic research and leadership programmes to opportunities for professional and personal development.