Enviro News Asia, Bandung — Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia has officially appointed Dr. Eka Cahya Prima, S.Pd., M.T. as a full professor in energy materials physics, marking him as one of the youngest professors in the field of physics in Indonesia. The appointment was confirmed through the issuance of a Professor Decree during an academic session held in Bandung, West Java, on January 7, 2026.
The appointment recognizes Dr. Eka’s academic contributions in renewable energy materials, particularly solar cell research. He currently leads the Solar Energy Materials Laboratory under the Physics Study Program and the Science Education Program at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, supporting research activities from undergraduate to doctoral levels.
The laboratory has become a key research hub for renewable energy development and actively engages in interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration. Research partnerships have been established with several national institutions, including BRIN, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Universitas Padjadjaran, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, and other universities across Java.
The research group also collaborates with institutions outside Java, including Universitas Sriwijaya and Universitas Gadjah Mada, focusing on solar cell development, material synthesis, and advanced characterization services.
Several research outcomes produced by Dr. Eka and his team have been published in high-impact international journals such as Advanced Energy Materials and ACS Nano Materials. Some innovations have progressed to commercialization, contributing directly to the advancement of renewable energy technology in Indonesia.
Looking ahead, Dr. Eka aims to establish a University Center of Excellence for renewable energy at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Alongside research development, he is committed to strengthening sustainability-oriented science education through Education for Sustainable Development Goals (ESDG) and STEM-based learning approaches.
The research group currently involves approximately 27 students from various academic levels and universities nationwide. University leadership support has played a significant role in facilitating the professor appointment process and advancing long-term research development. (*)
