The ESMI Award for an Excellent PhD Thesis is presented to encourage and recognise outstanding research conducted by its early-career members. Through this award, we are proud to highlight their achievements, raise awareness of their work, and acknowledge their valuable contributions to both the field and the society.
Currently applications are accepted with date of thesis defence between October 2025 and September 2026.
Next application/submission deadline: 30 September 2026
Aims
With this competitive award, we aim to recognise outstanding achievements, raise awareness, and highlight the impact of excellent doctoral theses by early career researchers and members of the society.
Eligibility Criteria
- The award application has to be submitted to the ESMI with deadline 30 September
- The date of defense of thesis has to be within the current submission period (currently October 2024 to September 2025)
- Applications can be submitted throughout the year
- The nomination has to be supported by the supervisor(s) of the nominee
- Nominees need to be members of the ESMI
- All formal application requirements must be fulfilled
Nomination requirements
- One candidate from one department/group (same supervisor) can be nominated per year
- Nominations should be addressed to the ESMI office in writing via email to Irene via membership@esmi-insight.eu.
Your application must include:
- the official full-text document of your thesis in a pdf format (send via email or any other resource like WeTransfer etc.)
- the filled application template – download
- accompanied by a letter of support from your supervisor – download
- The use of provided templates is obligatory, all provided data is handled strictly confidential with e.g. respect to ongoing patent restrictions!
The Winner
- you are invited to present your research within the scope of a Plenary Lecture at the EMIM – the next ESMI’s annual meeting
- your excellent work will be acknowledged with 1000€
- you will be officially awarded within the EMIM opening ceremony
- your work will be highlighted at the ESMI website and social media resources
Top Thesis Webinars Series
A series of short webinars highlighting the outstanding work of the runners-up of the ESMI Award for excellent PhD thesis.
PhD Award Committee 2025
- Uwe Himmelreich, Leuven (Chair)
- Jan Grimm, New York (Co-Chair)
- Amnon Bar Shir, Rehovot
- Daniele Bertoglio, Antwerp
- Nick Devoogdt, Brussels
- Ulrich Flögel, Düsseldorf
- Gilbert Fruhwirt, London
- Beatriz Salinas, Madrid
- Adriana Tavares, Edinburgh