New Prize and Award Recipients
Below is a list of all prize and award recipients announced for 2012.
Abraham Pais Prize for History of Physics
Roger H. Stuewer (2013 Recipient)
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
For his pioneering historical studies of the photon concept and nuclear physics, and for his leadership in bringing physicists into writing the history of physics by helping to organize and develop supporting institutions and publications.
Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Award in Fluid Dynamics
William Durham (2012 Recipient)
University of Oxford
For innovative work at the interface of fluid mechanics and environmental science, and specifically for demonstrating through a combination of original experiments and modeling that hydrodynamic effects can have a major impact on the spatial distribution of motile plankton in the ocean
Andrei Sakharov Prize
Richard Wilson (2012 Recipient)
Harvard University
For tireless efforts in defense of human rights and freedom of expression and education anywhere in the world, and for inspiring students, colleagues and others to do the same.
Mulugeta Bekele (2012 Recipient)
University of Addis Ababa
For tireless efforts in defense of human rights and freedom of expression and education anywhere in the world, and for inspiring students, colleagues and others to do the same.
Aneesur Rahman Prize for Computational Physics
James R. Chelikowsky (2013 Recipient)
University of Texas, Austin
For computational applications of quantum theories to understand and predict material properties.
Arthur L. Schawlow Prize in Laser Science
Michael D. Fayer (2012 Recipient)
Stanford University
For seminal contributions to laser science in the development of ultrafast nonlinear and multidimensional vibrational spectroscopy.
Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Biological Physics
Timothy Sanchez (2012 Recipient)
Brandeis University
Self-Organization in Active Cytoskeletal Mixtures: Cilia-like Beating of Microtubule Bundles and Spontaneous Bulk Mixing.
Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics
Michio Jimbo (2013 Recipient)
Rikkyo University
For profound developments in integrable systems and their correlation functions in statistical mechanics and quantum field theory, making use of quantum groups, algebraic analysis and deformation theory.
Tetsuji Miwa (2013 Recipient)
Kyoto University
For profound developments in integrable systems and their correlation functions in statistical mechanics and quantum field theory, making use of quantum groups, algebraic analysis and deformation theory.
David Adler Lectureship Award in the Field of Materials Physics
Jean-Luc Bredas (2013 Recipient)
Georgia Institute of Technology
For his outstanding computational studies of the electronic, charge transport, and optical properties of conjugated polymers and related materials and their impact on organic electronics and photonics.
Davisson-Germer Prize in Atomic or Surface Physics
Geraldine L. Richmond (2013 Recipient)
University of Oregon
For elegant elucidation of molecular structure and organization at liquid-liquid and liquid-air interfaces, using nonlinear optical spectroscopies.
Dissertation Award in Nuclear Physics
Gang Shen (2013 Recipient)
University of Washington
For the development of a new self-consistent equation of state of nuclear matter that provides a unified description of nuclei and hot dense matter, and is suitable for use in numerical simulations of core-collapse supernova, neutron star merges and related extreme astrophysical phenomena.
Dwight Nicholson Medal for Human Outreach
NOT AWARDED (2012 Recipient)
Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy & Dynamics
Brooks Pate (2013 Recipient)
University of Virginia
For the development of innovative microwave spectroscopy techniques that take full advantage of new technologies, allowing new insights into rotational and vibrational relaxation in complex molecules.
Edward A. Bouchet Award
Stephon Alexander (2013 Recipient)
Dartmouth College
For his contributions to theoretical cosmology, in particular the interface between fundamental physics and early universe cosmology, that includes work in leptogenesis, and parity violating effects in quantum gravity, as well as for communicating many ideas of this field to the scientific community and the public.
Einstein Prize
Irwin I. Shapiro (2013 Recipient)
Harvard-Smithsonian CFA
For his contributions to experimental solar system tests of relativistic theories of gravity, and in particular for proposing and measuring the Shapiro time delay effect.
Excellence in Physics Education Award
Gary Gladding (2013 Recipient)
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
For the creative application of physics education research results with components of modern technology to create a new pedagogy for an introductory physics curriculum that substantially changes the roles of the instructors and students and, as measured through research, provides significant and nationally recognized learning benefits.
Mats Selen (2013 Recipient)
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
For the creative application of physics education research results with components of modern technology to create a new pedagogy for an introductory physics curriculum that substantially changes the roles of the instructors and students and, as measured through research, provides significant and nationally recognized learning benefits.
Timothy Stelzer (2013 Recipient)
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
For the creative application of physics education research results with components of modern technology to create a new pedagogy for an introductory physics curriculum that substantially changes the roles of the instructors and students and, as measured through research, provides significant and nationally recognized learning benefits.
Fluid Dynamics Prize
John F. Brady (2012 Recipient)
California Institute of Technology
For his seminal contributions to the rheology of "complex fluids", for creating the Stokesian Dynamics technique for predicting the macroscopic properties of concentrated supensions under shear, and for his services to Fluid Dynamics as Associate Editor and Editor, respectively, of two top journals.
Francis M. Pipkin Award
Randolf Pohl (2013 Recipient)
Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics
For the observation of the 2S state of muonic hydrogen and for a precision measurement of the Lamb shift of muonic hydrogen, which has significant implications for the determination of the charge radius of the proton.
Frank Isakson Prize for Optical Effects in Solids
Dmitri Basov (2012 Recipient)
University of California, San Diego
For innovative and insightful use of infrared spectroscopy to probe correlated electron systems.
George E. Duvall Shock Compression Science Award
Gennady I. Kanel (2013 Recipient)
Institute for High Temperatures Russian Academy of Science
For outstanding contribution to the physics of shock waves in condensed matter, discovery and studying anomalous thermal hardening, superheated solid states, failure wave phenomena, investigations of sub-microsecond strength properties of materials over a wide range of load durations and temperatures.
George E. Pake Prize
Mark Pinto (2013 Recipient)
Applied Materials
For seminal contributions to the physics of semiconductor devices and computation models and algorithms for device simulation, and for visionary leadership of global semiconductor, display, and solar industries.
George E. Valley Jr. Prize
Jinhui Chen (2012 Recipient)
Chinese Academy of Science
In recognition of his discovery of the first antimatter hypernucleus and his seminal contributions to the study of partonic matter using φ mesons produced in relativistic nuclear collisions.
Hans A. Bethe Prize
George M. Fuller (2013 Recipient)
University of California, San Diego
For outstanding contributions to nuclear astrophysics, especially his seminal work on weak interaction rates for stellar evolution and collapse and his pioneering research on neutrino flavor-mixing in supernovae.
Henry Primakoff Award for Early-Career Particle Physics
Teppei Katori (2013 Recipient)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
For outstanding contributions to a wide range of accelerator - based neutrino physics, including cross section measurements and searches for violations of Lorentz and CPT symmetry.
Herbert P. Broida Prize
Daniel M. Neumark (2013 Recipient)
University of California, Berkeley
For his pioneering work in reaction and cluster dynamics using transition state spectroscopy and time-resolved femtosecond photoelectron spectroscopy.
I.I. Rabi Prize in Atomic, Molecular & Optical Phy
Markus Greiner (2013 Recipient)
Harvard University
For seminal contributions to the field of ultracold atoms, including the observation of the superfluid-to-Mott-insulator transition, the study of the BEC-BCS cross over for fermions, and the development of imaging techniques for atoms in optical lattices with single-atom resolution
Irving Langmuir Prize in Chemical Physics
Wilson Ho (2013 Recipient)
University of California, Irvine
For his development and application of transformative experiments that have allowed the visualization of physical and chemical phenomena within molecules at the atomic scale.
J.J. Sakurai Prize for Theoretical Particle Physics
Roberto Peccei (2013 Recipient)
University of California, Los Angeles
For the proposal of the elegant mechanism to resolve the famous problem of strong-CP violation which, in turn, led to the invention of axions, a subject of intense experimental and theoretical investigation for more than three decades.
Helen Quinn (2013 Recipient)
SLAC
For the proposal of the elegant mechanism to resolve the famous problem of strong-CP violation which, in turn, led to the invention of axions, a subject of intense experimental and theoretical investigation for more than three decades.
J.J. and Noriko Sakurai Dissertation Award in Theoretical Particle Physics
David Sanford (2013 Recipient)
California Institute of Technology
For his studies of supersymmetry and its possible role in resolving the naturalness, flavor, and dark matter puzzles of the standard models of particle physics and cosmology.
James C. McGroddy Prize for New Materials
John B. Pendry (2013 Recipient)
Imperial College
For the discovery of metamaterials.
David R. Smith (2013 Recipient)
Duke University
For the discovery of metamaterials.
Costas M. Soukoulis (2013 Recipient)
Iowa State University
For the discovery of metamaterials.
James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics
Liu Chen (2012 Recipient)
University of California, Irvine
For seminal contributions to plasma theory, including geomagnetic pulsation, kinetic Alfvén wave, toroidal Alfvén eigenmode, fishbone oscillation and energetic particle mode, nonlinear dynamics of drift wave, and nonlinear gyrokinetic equation.
John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research
Laurent Divol (2012 Recipient)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
For predicting and demonstrating the technique of laser scatter on self-generated plasma-optics gratings that enables generation and redirection of high-energy laser beams important for indirect drive inertial confinement fusion and high-power laser-matter interactions.
Debra Ann Callahan (2012 Recipient)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
For predicting and demonstrating the technique of laser scatter on self-generated plasma-optics gratings that enables generation and redirection of high-energy laser beams important for indirect drive inertial confinement fusion and high-power laser-matter interactions.
George Kyrala (2012 Recipient)
Los Alamos National Laboratory
For predicting and demonstrating the technique of laser scatter on self-generated plasma-optics gratings that enables generation and redirection of high-energy laser beams important for indirect drive inertial confinement fusion and high-power laser-matter interactions.
Robert Kirkwood (2012 Recipient)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
For predicting and demonstrating the technique of laser scatter on self-generated plasma-optics gratings that enables generation and redirection of high-energy laser beams important for indirect drive inertial confinement fusion and high-power laser-matter interactions.
Nathan Meezan (2012 Recipient)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
For predicting and demonstrating the technique of laser scatter on self-generated plasma-optics gratings that enables generation and redirection of high-energy laser beams important for indirect drive inertial confinement fusion and high-power laser-matter interactions.
Pierre Michel (2012 Recipient)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
For predicting and demonstrating the technique of laser scatter on self-generated plasma-optics gratings that enables generation and redirection of high-energy laser beams important for indirect drive inertial confinement fusion and high-power laser-matter interactions.
Edward Williams (2012 Recipient)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
For predicting and demonstrating the technique of laser scatter on self-generated plasma-optics gratings that enables generation and redirection of high-energy laser beams important for indirect drive inertial confinement fusion and high-power laser-matter interactions.
John H. Dillon Medal
Mahesh Mahanthappa (2013 Recipient)
University of Wisconsin
For fundamental studies of block copolymers with controlled dispersity.
John Wheatley Award
Sultana Nahar (2013 Recipient)
The Ohio State University
For efforts to promote physics research and teaching through collaboration, mentoring, and philanthropy in several third-world countries, and in particular for her promotion, as both an advocate and role model, of Muslim women scientists.
Joseph A. Burton Forum Award
Jeremy Bernstein (2013 Recipient)
Independent Author and Commentator
For his important contributions to public understanding of the physics of nuclear policy and for his graceful and subtle explanations of modern science in his books and articles over many decades.
Joseph F. Keithley Award for Advances in Measurement Science
Nergis Mavalvala (2013 Recipient)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
For seminal contributions to the development and application of quantum metrological methods, in particular of squeezed light sources and optical springs, enabling sensitive measurements beyond the standard quantum limit.
David McClelland (2013 Recipient)
Australian National University
For seminal contributions to the development and application of quantum metrological methods, in particular of squeezed light sources and optical springs, enabling sensitive measurements beyond the standard quantum limit.
Roman Schnabel (2013 Recipient)
Leibniz Universitat Hannover
For seminal contributions to the development and application of quantum metrological methods, in particular of squeezed light sources and optical springs, enabling sensitive measurements beyond the standard quantum limit.
Julius Edgar Lilienfeld Prize
Margaret Geller (2013 Recipient)
Harvard-Smithsonian CFA
For her pioneering work leading to the discovery of the large-scale structure of the universe and for her extraordinary contributions to science education of diverse audiences around the world.
Landau-Spitzer Award
Sergei Anisimov (2012 Recipient)
Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics, Moscow
For outstanding contributions to plasma physics ranging from fundamental plasma theory to laboratory plasmas, controlled inertial fusion and astrophysical phenomena, particularly in the areas of laser interaction with plasma, plasma dynamics and stability, compressed matter and turbulence.
Lars Onsager Prize
Daniel Fisher (2013 Recipient)
Stanford University
For innovative and wide-ranging contributions to the statistical physics of disordered systems, including but not limited to random magnets, sliding charge density waves, and vortices in superconductors.
LeRoy Apker Award
Yuliya Dovzhenko (2012 Recipient)
Princeton University
Coherent Control of a Semiconductor Charge Qubit.
Theodore Yoder (2012 Recipient)
Franklin & Marshall College
The Standard Model Extension and its Application to Hydrogen.
Leo Szilard Lectureship Award
Geoffrey West (2013 Recipient)
Santa Fe Institute
For path-breaking work on the origin of universal biological scaling laws and quantitative models for structural and functional design of organisms. For theoretical insights about the long-term sustainability of cities.
Maria Goeppert Mayer Award
Feryal Ozel (2013 Recipient)
University of Arizona
For contributions to neutron star astrophysics, including the theoretical interpretation of X-ray emission from magnetars and determination of accurate masses and radii that yield constraints on the equation of state; and for her outstanding contributions to the public understanding of science.
Marshall N. Rosenbluth Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award
Yu-Hsin Chen (2012 Recipient)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
For measurements and theory of the ultrafast, high field, nonlinear response of gases near the ionization threshold, characterization of femtosecond plasma filaments, and demonstration that femtosecond filamentation requires plasma stabilization.
Max Delbruck Prize in Biological Physics
William A. Eaton (2012 Recipient)
NIDDK, National Institutes of Health
In recognition of his contributions to the understanding of protein folding, dynamics, and function. Eaton's innovative experiments provided a detailed characterization of the energy landscape of proteins.
Mitsuyoshi Tanaka Dissertation Award in Experimental Particle Physics
Georgia Karagiorgi (2012 Recipient)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Searches for New Physics at MiniBooNE: Sterile Neutrinos and Mixing Freedom.
Nicholas Metropolis Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Work in Computational Physics
David Yllanes (2013 Recipient)
University of Madrid
For developing and applying new computational methods to diluted Ising ferromagnets and spin glasses while presenting this material with exceptional clarity. This includes the novel tethered Monte Carlo algorithm as well as implementing detailed low level simulations on the Janus special purpose computer
Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize
Luc Berger (2013 Recipient)
Carnegie Mellon University
For predicting spin-transfer torque and opening the field of current-induced control over magnetic nanostructures.
John Slonczewski (2013 Recipient)
IBM Research Staff Emeritus
For predicting spin-transfer torque and opening the field of current-induced control over magnetic nanostructures.
Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in AMO Physics
Waseem Bakr (2012 Recipient)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Microscopic studies of quantum phase transitions in optical lattices.
Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Beam Physics Award
Daniel Ratner (2012 Recipient)
Stanford University
Much ado about Microbunching: Coherent Bunching in High Brightness Electron Beams.
Polymer Physics Prize
Stephen Z.D. Cheng (2013 Recipient)
University of Akron
For pioneering contributions to the fundamental understanding of crystallization, metastability, and phase transformations of semi-crystalline polymers.
Prize for Industrial Applications of Physics
John Woollam (2013 Recipient)
University of Nebraska
For sustained contributions to commercialization of spectroscopic ellipsometry, including greatly improved instrumentation and numerous new applications.
Prize for a Faculty Member for Research in an Undergraduate Institution
Mario Affatigato (2013 Recipient)
Coe College
For high- impact research on optical and structural properties of glasses, stewardship of professional societies and journals, and extensive international collaborations, melded with energetic, compassionate supervision of undergraduate research participants.
Robert R. Wilson Prize for Achievement in the Physics of Particle Accelerators
John Galayda (2013 Recipient)
SLAC
For his leadership and outstanding and pioneering contributions to the development, construction and commissioning of the LCLS, the first X-ray FEL to lase at 0.15nm, and his contribution of the Advanced Photon Source and the National Synchrotron Light Source.
Stanley Corrsin Award
Daniel Lathrop (2012 Recipient)
University of Maryland, College Park
For his striking observations of flow in a quantum fluid, including detection of counter-flow that confirmed the two-fluid picture of quantum fluid, observation and characterization of reconnections of quantized vortices, and the discovery of an inverse-cube tail in the velocity distribution of superfluid turbulence.
Tom W. Bonner Prize in Nuclear Physics
Michael K. Moe (2013 Recipient)
University of California, Irvine
For his leadership in the first observation of the rare process of two neutrino double beta decay, where his creative contributions were instrumental to its successful detection and transformed the field.
W.K.H. Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics
Blas Cabrera (2013 Recipient)
Stanford University
For pioneering work and leading roles in the development and use of phonon detection techniques enabling direct searches for weakly interacting massive particles.
Bernard Sadoulet (2013 Recipient)
University of California, Berkeley
For pioneering work and leading roles in the development and use of phonon detection techniques enabling direct searches for weakly interacting massive particles.
Will Allis Prize for the Study of Ionized Gases
Philip G. Burke (2012 Recipient)
Queen's University Belfast
For pioneering and sustained theoretical development of R-Matrix computational methods for electron-atom and electron-molecule collisions important in modeling ionized gases and plasmas.







