UPI Lecturer Eka Cahya Prima Becomes Youngest Physics Professor
A lecturer at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) in Bandung, Eka Cahya Prima, aged 35, became the youngest professor during the inauguration ceremony for 14 professors at his campus on 7-8 May 2026. “Based on the database, I am the youngest professor in the field of physics in Indonesia,” said the man born in Sumedang on 26 June 1990 in a statement on Thursday, 7 May 2026.
The decree appointing him as a professor was obtained from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Technology on 1 December 2026.
In his inaugural speech titled “Innovation in Solar Cell Materials through Theoretical Approaches and Spectroscopy,” Eka outlined the urgency of developing renewable energy amid rising global energy needs and the threat of climate change.
He explained how research on third-generation solar cells such as Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC), Perovskite, and kesterite CZTS can serve as future energy solutions that are more environmentally friendly and affordable. “My research is also about solar energy materials,” he stated.
Eka completed his Bachelor’s degree at UPI in 2011, then pursued a Master’s at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) until graduating in 2013. He obtained his Doctoral degree from ITB in 2017. In the field of materials physics, Eka is a pioneer in integrating theoretical methods like Density Functional Theory (DFT) and spectroscopy to engineer future energy materials.
His monumental contribution is the development of CZTS (Kesterite) solar cells based on local materials, which successfully achieved an efficiency of 7.5 percent. This achievement is considered significant for thin-film solar cell technology with non-vacuum fabrication.
Additionally, Eka has explored Indonesia’s natural potential through innovations in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC) utilising anthocyanin and chlorophyll pigments, as well as engineering Perovskite solar cells, which are now a global energy technology trend.
To date, the father of two children has published more than 70 scientific articles in reputable international journals, with an h-index of 13 on Scopus and 23 on Google Scholar. At the campus, Eka initiated the Solar Energy Material Laboratory and developed STEM-Design Thinking modules.
Eka also holds dozens of Intellectual Property Rights in the form of digital learning media and science experiment tools based on technology. The awards he has received include the Outstanding Lecturer Award in 2018, Academic Leader Lecturer (2023), and the Satya Dedication Work Award (2024).