Photo caption: Dr. Savanna Lloyd.

In the summer of 2025, Dr. Savanna Lloyd returned to a place that shaped both her academic journey and professional identity, the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) in Ishikawa, Japan. From June 19 to August 15, she was invited as a Visiting Researcher, collaborating once again with her PhD supervisor, Professor Hideyuki Murata. The visit was more than a reunion with her alma mater; it was an opportunity to strengthen scientific partnerships, advance innovative projects, and contribute to the international visibility of The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona.

While at JAIST, Dr. Lloyd engaged in a series of collaborative research activities spanning multiple disciplines. Together with Dr. Peter Nelson, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at UWI Mona, she carried out Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analyses on surface-functionalized and doped silica nanoparticles. Her work with Ms. Chantal Simmonds-Anderson, a graduate student in Physics, and Professor Venkateswara Penugonda, Head of the Department of Physics, focused on X-ray Diffraction (XRD) studies of doped bioactive glass powder composites. She also explored the influence of electric field strength on the uniaxial alignment of the conjugated polymer P3HT, research aimed at improving the efficiency of solar cell devices. Much of this work was made possible by the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents research grant, which funded the construction of a specialized apparatus used during her experiments.

Photo caption: Dr. Lloyd at JAIST. 

The return to JAIST was deeply personal for Dr. Lloyd. Her academic journey in Japan began in 2017, when she was awarded the competitive MEXT scholarship. As the first Jamaican and Caribbean national to study at JAIST, she completed her MSc in Materials Science in 2019 with the thesis titled “Enhancement of the Light Outcoupling Efficiency in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes by Substrate and Organic Layer Patterning.” She went on to earn her PhD in 2022, producing a dissertation titled “Strategies for Improving the Outcoupling Efficiency in Organic Light-Emitting Diodes for Lighting and Display Applications.”

Photo caption: Dr. Lloyd conducting a reserach at JAIST.

Her most recent visit brought her full circle—combining the foundation built in Japan with the expertise and collaborations she now fosters at UWI Mona. For Dr. Lloyd, the experience highlighted not only the importance of international collaboration in advancing scientific discovery but also the significance of representation and trailblazing. Her journey continues to inspire students and colleagues alike, showing that research born in Jamaica can contribute meaningfully to solving global challenges.