Dani Zuhair wins first prize at EUCYS: “An unforgettable experience”

“It was a huge shock. I could hardly believe it was true. I was shaking with joy. Winning the honorary prize as well was just surreal,” says Zuhair about the moment he received the news.

Although EUCYS is organized by the European Union, the competition includes participants from far beyond Europe. “It’s often referred to as the European Championships, but many countries outside Europe also take part,” Zuhair explains. 

He describes the experience as both inspiring and rewarding: “Meeting passionate, like-minded individuals from all over the world was incredibly fun and intellectually stimulating.” He even plans a summer road trip through Scandinavia with some of the friends he made during the event.

Early achievements and research at KTH 

Despite having only recently graduated from upper secondary school, Zuhair has already built an impressive academic résumé. He has participated in research internships at Lund University and KTH, and currently holds a research position at the Division of Applied Physics at KTH. 

“I’ve always been interested in these subjects. When I was nine, I found the math problems at school too easy, so my father started giving me extra assignments, which I loved,” he recalls. During secondary school, his interest developed into a hobby, and through friends he learned about research internships which eventually lead him to KTH. 

“When I was offered a research position at KTH, I couldn’t say no. I just had to ask my parents if I could move to a new city all alone,” he explains. Moving from Malmö to Stockholm and living independently has been a challenge, Zuhair emphasizes, but also an exciting opportunity. 

At KTH, Zuhair works with Professors Martin Månsson and Yasmine Sassa in the field of condensed matter physics. “I’m incredibly grateful to have found my way to KTH, or that KTH found me. The research projects are both fun and intellectually enriching. Yasmine and Martin welcomed me as part of the team from day one. They are amazing mentors and people,” he adds.

Interests beyond science 

Outside of research, Zuhair has a wide range of interests. Music, especially the violin, has played a major role in his life. In Stockholm, he has performed in a semi-professional orchestra and served as concertmaster. He is also active in science-focused organizations and enjoys connecting with others who share his passion for research and discovery.

Looking ahead 

Zuhair had originally planned to study in the United States, but an arm injury led him to remain in Sweden. “Now I’ve been offered this research position at KTH, which is very exciting. We’ll see what happens next. I want to study something closely related to engineering physics and deepen my theoretical knowledge. My goal is to become an engineer and work in a field that truly interests me,” he concludes. 

Text: Jelina Khoo