APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research

Established to recognize contributions of the highest level that advance our knowledge and understanding of the physical universe in all its facets. It is intended to celebrate scientific inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge.

The Medal carries with it a prize of $50,000, a certificate citing the contribution made by the recipient, an allowance for travel to the APS Medal and Prize Ceremony and Reception in Washington, D.C., and an invited talk at an APS March or April Meeting.

2023 APS Medal & Society Prizes Documentary Video

Establishment & Support

The APS Medal for Exceptional Achievement in Research is the largest Society prize to recognize the achievement of researchers from across all fields of physics. It is funded by a generous donation from Jay Jones, entrepreneur.

Rules & Eligibility

The prize will be awarded annually without restriction by subfield of physics or by nationality. The award shall ordinarily be awarded to a single person, but a prize may be shared by up to three recipients. Previous winners of other APS Prizes and Awards are eligible. Nominations will be considered for three review cycles provided the nominator re-certifies the nomination before the next deadline. Self-nominations are not permitted.

Nomination & Selection Process

Deadline: Wednesday, May 1, 2024

The nomination package must include:

  • A letter of 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.

To start a new or update a continuing nomination, please see the Prize & Award Nomination Guidelines.

Selection Committee

 The selection committee will be the APS Medal & Society Prize Committee which consists of the APS President-Elect, all APS Councilors representing the Divisions of the Society and one additional Councilor appointed by the President-Elect from the Councilors not representing the Divisions. The chair is the President-Elect. 

2024 Selection Committee Members: Young-Kee Kim (Chair), Tanja Cuk, Daniel Fisher, Peter Schiffer, Karen Winey, Kenneth Brown, Brian Fields, John Wilkerson, Robert Bernstein, Kandice Tanner, Michael Brown, Kristan Corwin, Bruce Carlsten, Heinrich Jaeger, James Freericks

The membership of APS is diverse and global, and the nominees and recipients of APS Honors should reflect that diversity so that all are recognized for their impact on our community. Nominations of members belonging to groups traditionally underrepresented in physics, such as women, LGBT+ scientists, scientists who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), disabled scientists, scientists from institutions with limited resources, and scientists from outside the United States, are especially encouraged.

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 Guidelines. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from consideration or lead to revocation of honors or removal from office.

2024 Recipient

Prof. Dr. Stuart Parkin
Max Planck Institute for Microstructure Physics, Halle (Saale), Germany



Past Recipients

2023: Sidney R. Nagel
2022: Elliott H. Lieb
2021: Gordon Baym
2020: Myriam Sarachik
2019: Bertrand I. Halperin
2018: Eugene N. Parker
2017: Daniel Kleppner
2016: Edward Witten