Physical Crystallography Prize & Malvern PANalytical Thesis Prize

The Physical Crystallography Group (PCG) of the British Crystallographic Association (BCA), in collaboration with the Structural Condensed Matter Physics Group (SCMP) of the Institute of Physics, annually recognizes excellence in the field of physical crystallography through two prestigious awards:

• The Physical Crystallography Prize – awarded for impactful published work by early-career researchers.

• The Malvern PANalytical Thesis Prize – celebrating the best doctoral thesis in physical crystallography submitted at a UK university.

Both prizes highlight the significant contributions of emerging scientists to the advancement of crystallography and its applications.

The Physical Crystallography Prize 2026

• Eligibility: Early-career researchers (within 12 years of first degree, accounting for career breaks).

• Criteria: Best recently published work (up to 3 papers), demonstrating significant potential impact.

• Location Requirement: Nominees must be UK citizens, UK residents, or have performed the work in the UK.

• Nomination Process:

  • Nominations must be made by a third party (self-nominations not accepted).

  • Submissions should include:

    • A short CV of the nominee.

    • Up to 3 relevant publications.

    • A supporting statement from the nominator.

• Deadline: 23:59, Friday 17 October 2025.

• Prize: Traditionally £500, plus the opportunity to deliver a Prize Lecture at the BCA Spring Meeting (30 March – 1 April 2026).

• Contact: Dr. Lewis Owen (PCG/SCMP Chair) – [email protected].

History

The prize has evolved over decades, with past sponsorship by Philips Analytical and PANalytical before being taken over by the Institute of Physics. Today, it continues to serve as one of the most prestigious recognitions in the crystallography community.

Selected Past Winners

• 2024 – Dr. Hanna Boström (Stockholm University) & Dr. Lewis Owen (Sheffield)

• 2020 – Dr. Josie Auckett (Durham) & Dr. Lucy Clark (Birmingham)

• 2016 – Dr. Paul Saines (Kent)

• 1990 – Dr. Martin Dove (Cambridge)

Malvern PANalytical Thesis Prize 2025

• Eligibility: Doctoral theses examined at a UK university between 1 Jan 2023 – 31 Dec 2024.

• Criteria:

  • Central use of physical crystallography methods or techniques.

  • Work must demonstrate scientific impact beyond structure determination alone.

• Application Requirements:

  • A digital copy of the thesis.

  • A personal statement (max 500 words) explaining the role of crystallography in the research.

  • Contact details of two referees (one may be the thesis supervisor).

• Membership: Candidates must be a member of SCMP (IoP) or PCG (BCA). Non-members can join at the student rate.

• Prize Presentation: The award will be announced at the 2025 Winter Meeting, where the winner will deliver a 30-minute talk.

Selected Past Winners

• 2024 – Madeleine Geers (Nottingham) – Magnetic and Structural Order in Molecular-based Inorganic Framework Materials

• 2022 – Tong Zhu (Oxford) – Soft chemical routes to ferroelectric and multiferroic materials

• 2018 – Lewis Owen (Cambridge) – Local structural effects in alloys using total scattering

• 2006 – Andrew Goodwin (Cambridge) – Dynamics from Powder Diffraction

Scope of Physical Crystallography

For the purpose of these prizes, physical crystallography is defined broadly and includes:

• X-ray and neutron diffraction/scattering.

• Rietveld analysis and structure refinement.

• Crystallography under non-ambient conditions.

• Electron diffraction and diffuse scattering.

• Computational crystallography and modeling.

• Applications of crystallography in physics, chemistry, and biology.

This broad remit ensures inclusivity across a wide range of crystallographic research areas.

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Conclusion

The Physical Crystallography Prize and the Malvern PANalytical Thesis Prize not only recognize scientific excellence but also provide early-career researchers with a platform to showcase their work at major crystallography meetings. With deadlines approaching in October 2025, these prizes represent a unique opportunity for emerging scientists to gain recognition and further establish themselves in the crystallography community.

For more details and nomination forms, visit the official PCG/SCMP website: www.pcg-scmp.org/Prizes.

⚖️ Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Applicants and nominators should refer to the official PCG/SCMP Prize announcements and follow the exact instructions, deadlines, and eligibility rules provided by the awarding bodies.