Dissertation Award in Nuclear Physics
The Dissertation Award in Nuclear Physics recognizes doctoral thesis research of outstanding quality and achievement in nuclear physics. The annual award consists of $2,500, a certificate, travel reimbursement, and a registration waiver to receive the award and give an invited talk at the Fall Meeting of the APS Division of Nuclear Physics.
Rules and eligibility
Nominations are open to any person who has received a PhD in experimental or theoretical nuclear physics from a North American university within the two-year period preceding the current nomination deadline.
Process and selection
Nominations should include:
- APS Prizes and Awards nomination form (nominee’s contact information, thesis date)
- A letter of support from the nominee's PhD thesis advisor
- Two additional letters of support
- A copy of the proposed candidate's thesis
If a candidate is not selected, they may be renominated for this award provided all other eligibility criteria are still met. In this case a new nomination package must be submitted.
Selection Committee
- Diana Parno
- Dipangkar Dutta
- Jaideep Singh
- Wei Jia Ong
- Steven Pain
- Raul Briceno
Establishment and support
This award was endowed in 1985 by members and friends of the Division of Nuclear Physics. It was given bi-annually until becoming an annual award in 1999.
Recent recipients
David Neto
2026 recipient
For outstanding contributions to active-target programs and nuclear-fusion studies in experimental nuclear astrophysics, through innovative detector research and data analysis as well as advanced machine-learning applications.
Jiaxiang Wang
2026 recipient
For pioneering work developing optomechanical sensors for nuclear-physics research, including loading with radioisotopes and detection of recoil forces from single nuclear alpha decays.
Bruno Sebastian Scheihing Hitschfeld
2025 recipient
For defining and computing the QCD correlation functions that govern the dissociation and recombination of quarkonia in quark-gluon plasma, and for developing a systematic theoretical framework to describe the out-of-equilibrium dynamics and hydrodynamization of QCD matter.
Zhiwan Xu
2025 recipient
For significant contributions to quantum chromodynamics through innovative methods to suppress experimental backgrounds and interpret observables at the relativistic heavy ion collider.
Garrett King
2024 recipient
For significant implementation and extensive application of Quantum Monte Carlo many-body methods to the study of electroweak structure and reactions in light nuclei across a wide range of experimentally relevant kinematics.
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.
Dissertation Award in Nuclear Physics
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As approved by the Council of Representatives on April 10, 2025.
APS honors exceptional contributions to the physics community, including travel support for students and early career physicists.