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The Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics Group currently offers three Awards:
Ruth Lynden-Bell PhD Prize
Call for Nominations now open!
We are delighted to announce the Ruth Lynden-Bell PhD Prize for Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics. This prize will be awarded on a biannual basis by the Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Prof. Ruth Lynden-Bell started her career working on spectroscopy. Later she worked on spin systems and infrared and Raman line shapes. She also contributed extensively to the investigation of liquids and disordered solids using computer simulations, often developing new techniques to investigate complex fluids, including seminal contributions in the area of ionic liquids.
Ruth was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 2006 in recognition of her “crucial advancements in our knowledge of the properties of liquids and disordered solids”. She was awarded the 2017 Lennard-Jones Lectureship for her work in Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics.
The winner will receive a certificate, a monetary prize (£300) and will be invited to deliver a presentation at a designated SMTG seminar or conference.
- Applications for the 2024 prize are invited in the general area of Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
- Both experimental and theoretical work is eligible for this award
- Students should have completed their PhD viva between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2023
- There is no restriction on nationality or country of study
You will need to provide:
- A two-page summary of the Thesis giving key research findings, written by the nominee
- A letter of support by the PhD supervisor of no more than 500 words attesting to the contribution by the nominee in the area of Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics and the nominee research independence. The letter should state the date of the PhD viva, and confirm that the PhD student passed the examination
- A web link to download a pdf copy of the Thesis. Please do not send a pdf with the nomination
- A CV (two pages maximum)
- Contact details of a referee who could provide an independent report (one page) on the PhD work. The independent reviewer may be the PhD external examiner
Nominees are encouraged to contact referees in advance, to ensure they will be able to submit the report upon request.
The SMTG Committee will judge the applications. Any SMTG committee member with a conflict of interest will not be allowed to judge that nomination.
View full details on how to submit your nominations to the Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
- 2022 - Beatrice Soh MIT, USA
Early Career Award
Call for Nominations now open!
The award is awarded biennially to an exceptional scientist, in the early stages of their career, working in the broadly defined area of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics.
The winner will receive £500, a certificate and will be invited to give a lecture at a designated SMTG conference with registration fees waived.
- Those eligible for this award should have made a substantial contribution to the field of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics in the UK or Ireland. Experimental and theoretical research are both eligible
- Candidates must normally be within 10 years of beginning their PhD and should be working in the UK, either in academia or industry, at the time of their nomination
- Members of the SMTG Committee are not eligible for awards
- Any SMTG committee member with a conflict of interest will not be allowed to judge that particular nomination
- A curriculum vitae for the nominee
- A letter of support from the Proposer, not exceeding two A4 pages in font size 12.
The SMTG committee will judge the applications.
The deadline for nominations for the 2024 award is 15 January 2024.
- 2023 - Dr Edris Joonaki, TÜV SÜD UK National Engineering Laboratory
- 2021 - Dr Davide Michieletto, University of Edinburgh
- 2019 - Dr Alice Thorneywork, University of Cambridge
- 2017 - Dr John Russo, University of Bristol
Lennard-Jones Lectureship Award
The Lennard–Jones Lectureship and Prize has a long and illustrious history. It was originally awarded in alternate years by the Theoretical Chemistry Group and the Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics Group (SMTG) of the RSC and then biennially by the SMTG alone.
Since 2001 this award (and the accompanying lecture) has been given in the Thermodynamics series of conferences.
- A recipient must have made an outstanding contribution to the field of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics and must be of international calibre
- The award is open to all nationalities and the recipient is decided by the SMTG Committee
Details will be provided here when nominations are open.
- 2021 - Julia Yeomans
- 2019 - Denis J Evans
- 2017 - R Lynden-Bell
- 2015 - M Allen
- 2013 - K E Gubbins
- 2011 - H N W Lekkerkerker
- 2009 - K Binder
- 2007 - R Evans
- 2005 - G Schneider
- 2003 - J-P Hansen
- 2001 - D Chandler
- 1999 - E Sackmann
- 1997 - D Frenkel
- 1995 - M E Fisher
- 1993 - B Widom
- 1992 - B T Sutcliffe
- 1991 - W M Gelbart
- 1990 - A J Stone
- 1989 - P-G de Gennes
- 1988 - G G Hall
- 1987 - J M Deutch & I Oppenheim
- 1986 - A D Buckingham
- 1985 - J S Rowlinson
- 1984 - N C Handy
- 1983 - L A K Staveley
- 1982 - J A Pople