Katherine Weimer Award
This award, honoring a plasma scientist who is also a woman, consists of $4,000 and funds for travel to the annual meeting where the award is to be presented. The award also includes a certificate citing the contributions made by the recipient. The recipient will be invited to give a talk at the Division's annual meeting.
Rules and eligibility
The Katherine E. Weimer Award recognizes a woman in the early years of her career for scientific achievements in plasma science. Eligible nominees must have received their Ph.D. within ten years prior to the nomination deadline and demonstrated significant potential as an outstanding plasma scientist. The award is open to any woman working in the field of plasma science.
In alignment with APS policy, brief leaves taken during the ten-year post-Ph.D. period (e.g., for family or medical reasons) may be considered in determining eligibility. Such circumstances should be clearly explained in the nomination package.
Nominations are active for one selection cycle only.
The Award endowment was funded with $15,000 from DPP and 15,000 of generous contributions from friends and colleagues of Katherine Weimer, and includes contributions from discretionary funds of fusion/plasma science research laboratories.
There is currently no provision for online submissions for the Weimer Award. Submissions must be emailed to the Selection Committee Chair. The standard APS Nomination Guidelines describe guidelines, but the submission instructions on the APS page should not be used for the DPP Weimer Award.
Process and selection
To nominate a candidate, email the following information to the Award Committee members by the deadline of April 28, 2023:
- A letter evaluating the nominee's qualifications identifying the specific work to be recognized
- A biographical sketch
- A list of the most important publications
- At least two, but no more than four, seconding letter
Establishment and support
In 2001, the American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics Executive Committee established the Katherine E. Weimer Award to “recognize and encourage outstanding achievement in plasma science research by a woman physicist in the early years of her career.”
Katherine E. Weimer, PhD, was a pioneering research physicist at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory at Princeton University. She made many important contributions in magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium and stability theory for magnetically confined plasmas.
The Division of Plasma Physics has historically experienced significantly lower representation of women in its ranks compared to other divisions. This award will play an important role in recognizing the contribution and potential of women in plasma science and will help to attract and retain women in this field.
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.