Nominations are now invited for the ANSTO Australian Synchrotron Stephen Wilkins Thesis Medal.
This medal is awarded annually to the PhD student at an Australian or New Zealand University who is judged to have completed the most outstanding thesis of the past two years whose work was undertaken at and acknowledges the Australian Synchrotron, or whose work acknowledges and was undertaken under the auspices of the International Synchrotron Access Program (ISAP). The 2025 ANSTO Australian Synchrotron Stephen Wilkins Medal, will be awarded to the candidate producing the most outstanding thesis and whose degree was awarded, but not necessarily conferred, after the 30th June 2023. The awardee will receive a monetary prize of $3,000 funded by a bequest from the Wilkins family and by ANSTO to support career development.
The prize was established in honour of Prof. Stephen Wilkins, who was a stalwart of X-ray and synchrotron research in Australia. Stephen was a CSIRO scientist for more than 35 years and made many pioneering contributions in the field of X-ray science.
He made key contributions in the field of X-ray crystallography and was the lead author of a seminal study on X-ray phase contrast imaging that was published in the journal Nature. This study has formed the basis of imaging and computed tomography capabilities at synchrotron facilities all around the world, including at the Australian Synchrotron’s Imaging and Medical Beamline and Microcomputed Tomography beamline.
In the early 1980s, as one of the first enthusiastic proponents of synchrotron radiation in Australia, Stephen Wilkins demonstrated how important this new tool would be to all the scientific disciplines. He was influential in the establishment of the Australian National Beamline Facility in Japan in the early 1990s, as well as in supporting the case for the establishment of the Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne in the early 2000s.
Conditions:
- Applicants are able to nominate themselves; however, a letter of support for their application is required from their PhD Supervisor(s).
- To be eligible, applicants must have completed their PhD while enrolled at an Australian or New Zealand University and must have been awarded their PhD within 2 years prior to 30 June of the current year. Applicants may still apply if their PhD has been awarded (evidenced by a letter from their university advising they have satisfied the requirements for the degree) but not conferred within this time period.
- Nominations are assessed by a Medal Selection Committee appointed by the Director of the Australian Synchrotron.
- The award is made to the PhD student at an Australian or New Zealand University who is judged to have completed the most outstanding thesis of the past two years whose work was undertaken at and acknowledges the Australian Synchrotron, or whose work acknowledges and was undertaken under the auspices of the ISAP.
- Synchrotron radiation techniques should have made a major contribution to the thesis.
- If the Medal Selection Committee is unable to identify a thesis of sufficient quality amongst the applications submitted, an award will not be offered.
- If the Medal Selection Committee identifies a number of high quality applications in addition to the Awardee, they may offer a “Highly Commended” certificate.
- The Awardee must be available to attend the ANSTO User Meeting to receive their award and present their work in a plenary session.
- ANSTO may publicise successful candidates.
HOW TO APPLY
There is no application form.
Applications must be submitted in electronic format, sent to um2025@ansto.gov.au and must include the following:
- A copy of the thesis along with evidence of the thesis being passed.
- A cover letter providing an overview of the research undertaken during the PhD candidature of the applicant, their academic achievements and future plans for their research career.
- Letters of support from the candidate’s PhD supervisor and Head of Department or School describing the significance of the work and the contribution it has made to the relevant field.
- Copies of the examiners’ reports.
- A list of publications resulting from the thesis.
- A copy of the applicant’s CV.
Applications will close on 5th September 2025 (11:59pm AEST)