Ruth Lynden-Bell PhD Prize on Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics

We are delighted to announce the Ruth Lynden-Bell PhD Prize on Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics. This Prize will be awarded on a biannual basis by the Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics Group of the Royal Society of chemistry.

Prof. Ruth Lynden-Bell started her career working on spectroscopy. Later she worked on spin systems and infrared and Raman line shapes. Prof. Lynden-Bell has also contributed extensively to the investigation of liquids and disordered solids using computer simulations, often developing new techniques to investigate complex fluids, including seminal contributions in the area of ionic liquids. Prof. Lynden-Bell was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 2006 in recognition for her “crucial advancements in our knowledge of the properties of liquids and disordered solids”. Prof. Lynden-Bell was awarded the 2017 Lennard-Jones Lectureship for her work in Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics.

Previous Recipients:

• 2022 : Dr. Beatrice W. Soh for the PhD Thesis "Studying topologically complex DNA at the single-molecule level"

Nominations for the 2022 prize are now closed. The next Ruth Lynden-Bell PhD prize will be awarded in 2024. See text below for details.

Eligibility:

Applications for the 2024 prize are invited in the general area of Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics. Both experimental and theoretical work is eligible for this award.

Students should have completed their PhD viva between January, 1st 2022 and December, 31st 2023.

There is no restriction on nationality or country of study.

Nomination process for the PhD SMTG Award

• A two-page summary on the Thesis and key research findings, written by the nominee.

• A letter of support by the PhD supervisor of no more than 500 words attesting to the contribution by the nominee in the area of Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics and the nominee research independence.

The letter should state the date of the PhD viva, and confirmation that the PhD student passed the examination.

• A web link to download a pdf copy of the Thesis. Please do not send a pdf with the nomination.

• A CV (2 pages maximum) including a list of international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences.

• Contact details of a referee who could provide an independent report (1 page) on the PhD work. The independent reviewer may be the PhD external examiner.

Nominees are encouraged to contact referees in advance, to ensure they will be able to submit the report upon request.

The SMTG Committee will judge the applications. Any SMTG committee member with a conflict of interest will not be allowed to judge that nomination.

The winner will receive a certificate, a monetary prize (£300) and be invited to deliver a presentation at a designated SMTG seminar or conference.

Submission of nominations

Please submit your nominations to the Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry via email to: rsc.smtg@gmail.com. Please use “SMTG PhD 2022” as the subject of your email.

Nominations open: January, 6, 2024

Deadline for submission of nominations: February, 28, 2024.