Contact: acspchem@vt.edu

Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Note that nominations from previous years do not carry over.

Awards

PHYS-Sponsored Awards:

The Division of Physical Chemistry sponsors four annual awards that recognize the outstanding scientific achievements of its members: the Senior and Early-career Theory Awards, the Senior Experimental Award, and the Richard P. Van Duyne Award (the former “Early-career Experimental Award”).  The “Senior” awards are given to an established scientist, while the “Early-career” awards are given to scientists who are within the first 10 years of their independent careers*. The nomination window for the four PHYS awards opens in the early fall (announced via Twitter and email), and generally stays open until about November 1st.  Winners are announced in mid- to late-January. Each of the honorees will be expected to present their award talk during the Awards Symposium held during the Fall National ACS Meeting.  Details regarding procedures and eligibility for each award are provided below.

*See below for eligibility for ACS PHYS EC members.

The awards will be granted regardless of race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, presence of disabilities, and educational background.

Purpose: To recognize outstanding contributions in experimental physical chemistry

Nature: At the fall ACS meeting that immediately follows the announcement of the award the recipient will present their research in one of the PHYS symposia and be honored at the annual PHYS reception. There is no honorarium associated with this award at this time because there is no sponsor.  

Nomination Procedures: 

1. A nomination letter of not more than 2 pages.
2. At least two seconding letters with no page limit.
3. The applicant’s CV.
4. A list of the publications that the nominee is most proud. 
5. A written assurance that, if selected, the nominee will attend the PHYS awards banquet and give their seminar at the ACS meeting in person. 

Application Deadline: All materials should be sent electronically to acspchem@vt.edu. The deadline is November 1st each year. Please include the nominee’s name in the subject line of the e-mail.

Eligibility: Eligibility is restricted to Physical Chemistry Division members who, at the time of the nomination, have not yet won a national award from a scientific society that is based on the nominee’s scientific accomplishments. Members of the National Academy of Science are also ineligible, but fellowship in a professional society is not considered a national award in this context nor are awards that recognize service to the chemistry community. The intent of this award is to recognize a top-notch mid- or senior-career scientist who is a key player in the physical chemistry community with a long history of exemplary research contributions but not a commensurate level of national or international recognition. At the time of the nomination, current serving members of the PHYS Division Executive Committee in any capacity, including subdivisions and councilors as well as individuals who are up for election to these positions, are ineligible for nomination for this award until after their term of service.

Sponsor: None. 

Established in 2010, updated in 2019

Purpose:  To recognize innovative research in theoretical chemistry that either advances theoretical methodology or contributes to new discoveries about chemical systems.

Nature:  At the fall ACS meeting that immediately follows the announcement of the award the recipient will present their research in one of the PHYS symposia, be honored at the annual PHYS reception, and receive a $5k honorarium.

Eligibility: A nominee must have accomplished innovative research in the field of theoretical chemistry. Emphasis in the selection process will be on work characterized by depth, originality, and scientific significance. At the time of the nomination, current serving members of the PHYS Division Executive Committee in any capacity, including subdivisions and councilors as well as individuals who are up for election to these positions, are ineligible for nomination for this award until after their term of service.

Nomination Procedures: 

1. A nomination letter of not more than 2 pages.
2. At least two seconding letters with no page limit.
3. The applicant’s CV.
4. A list of the publications that the nominee is most proud. 
5. A written assurance that, if selected, the nominee will attend the PHYS awards banquet and give their seminar at the ACS meeting in person.

Application Deadline: All materials should be sent electronically to acspchem@vt.edu. The deadline is November 1st each year. Please include the nominee’s name in the subject line of the e-mail.

Sponsors: Gustavo Scuseria, Jordan Schmidt, John C. Tully, Jack Simons, Peter G. Wolynes, Julie Biteen, Peter Pulay, David Sherrill, Laura Gagliardi, William H. Miller

History: The award was established in 1991 as a National ACS Award, and sponsored by the IBM Corp. until 2008. The ACS sponsored this award in 2009. Dell Incorporated sponsored the award from 2010-2014. The ACS sponsored the award in 2015-2016. The ACS Division of Physical Chemistry begin sponsoring this award in 2017.  In 2022, $25,000 was raised to sponsor the award through the PHYS Division to accept nominations in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Past Recipients: 

2022: Gustavo E. Scuseria

2021: Sharon Hammes-Schiffer

2020: Abraham Nitzan

2019: Donald G. Truhlar

2018: Emily Ann Carter

2017: Peter Pulay

2016: Roberto Car

2015: Mark S. Gordon

2014: Axel D. Becke

2013: Frank H. Stillinger

2012: Peter G. Wolynes

2011: Nicholas C. Handy

2010 – Bjorn O. Roos

2009 – Robert G. Parr

2008 – William A. Goddard III

2007 – Rodney J. Bartlett

2006 – Hans C. Andersen

2005 – Eric J. Heller

2004 – John C. Tully

2003 – Henry F. Schaefer III

2002 – Klaus Ruedenberg

2001 – Michele Parrinello

2000 – Ernest R. Davidson

1999 – Benjamin Widom

1998 – John A. Pople

1997 – Rudolph A. Marcus

1996 – David Chandler

1995 – Bruce J. Berne

1994 – William H. Miller

1993 – Martin Karplus

Purpose: To recognize outstanding contributions in experimental physical chemistry by a young investigator.

Nature: The award will be given each year to honor achievements by an investigator in the early stage of his/her careers in the area of experimental physical chemistry. The recipient will receive a plaque, and will be invited to present a lecture at the fall ACS meeting that immediately follows the announcement of the award. In addition, the Division will pay up to $1,500 to cover the travel, lodging, and meal expenses for the award winner while at that ACS meeting. The winner will also be invited to the Sunday evening dinner following the PHYS Executive Committee meeting.

Eligibility: Eligibility is restricted to Physical Chemistry Division members who, at the time of the nomination, are in the first ten (10) years of their careers as independent researchers, following their postdoctoral research, if applicable. [At the time of the nomination,] currently serving members of the PHYS Division Executive Committee [in any capacity, including subdivisions and councilors, as well as individuals who are up for election to these positions,] are ineligible for nomination for this award until after their term of service.  Any nominees that has served on the PHYS Exec Committee that prevented them from applying during their last year of eligibility will have their eligibility extended to the first twelve (12) years of the careers as independent researchers.][Previous awardees of the JPC/PHYS Lectureships are not eligible.]

Sponsor: PHYS Division

Established in 2012, updated in 2019, revised in 2021.