Francis M. Pipkin Award
To recognize exceptional research accomplishments by an early-career scientist in the interdisciplinary area of precision measurement and fundamental constants and encourages the wide dissemination of the research results. The award is given biennially every odd-number year and consists of $3,000 plus support of travel expenses to the APS Meeting at which the award is conferred.
Rules and eligibility
Scientists who have held the Ph.D. degree for not more than 15 years prior to the nomination deadline are eligible for the award. The award recipient will be selected on the basis of outstanding work in the area of precision measurement and fundamental constants, as represented by his or her publications and three nominating letters. Any APS member, not a member of the award Selection Committee, may submit a nominations. Nominations will be considered for two review cycles provided the nominator re-certifies the nomination before the next deadline.
Process and selection
The nomination package must include:
- A letter on not more than 5,000 characters evaluating the qualifications of the nominee(s).
In addition, the nomination should include:
- A biographical sketch.
- A list of the most important publications.
- At least two, but not more than four, seconding letters.
- Up to five reprints or preprints.
Selection Committee
- Reina Maruyama
- Andrew Geraci
- David Kawall
- Igor Pikovski
- Protik Majumder
Establishment and support
The award was established in 1997 by the Topical Group on Precision Measurement and Fundamental Constants in memory of Francis M. Pipkin, an enthusiastic and active member of the topical group whose wide interests in physics included experiments in condensed matter, nuclear, high energy, and atomic, molecular and optical physics, always with a special interest in precision measurements. The award has been endowed by contributions from family members, friends, students, and colleagues of Frank Pipkin.
Give to the Francis M. Pipkin Award endowment to support early-career scientists
Recent recipients
Kyle Leach
2025 recipient
For initiating and establishing new measurement techniques using rare-isotope-doped superconducting sensors as sensitive probes of fundamental physics in the electroweak sector.
Andrew Geraci
2023 recipient
For developing new precision measurement techniques to search for weakly coupled interactions of mesoscopic range and demonstrating the precision sensing capability of optically levitated nanoparticles.
Andrew D. Ludlow
2021 recipient
For significant contributions to the field of state-of-the-art atomic clocks and precision tests of fundamental physics.
Tanya Zelevinsky
2019 recipient
For pioneering research on producing ultracold molecules confined in optical lattices and using them for precision spectroscopy, molecular clock techniques, and tests of fundamental physics.
Jens Dilling
2017 recipient
For technical contributions and the use of Penning traps for the precise measurement of short-lived, radioactive nuclei such as halo nuclei and highly charged ions.
APS Honors recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of the global physics community. Guided by our core values, APS Honors encourages nominations that reflect the full range of talent, distinction, and experience in our field, and supports broad canvassing for professional achievement across diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise.
Nominees for and holders of APS Honors (prizes, awards, and fellowship) and official leadership positions are expected to meet standards of professional conduct and integrity as described in the APS Ethics Standards. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from consideration or lead to revocation of honors or removal from office.