The ISGS will award annually a prize to the student who has produced the best Ph.D. thesis and made the most outstanding contribution to scientific and/or technological knowledge in the field of sol-gel science and technology.

The winner will receive a diploma, a 2-year ISGS membership, and a selection of books from Springer. In addition, he/she will be invited to contribute with a review paper to the Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, the official journal of ISGS.

Eligibility
Open to all candidates that have obtained a Ph.D. degree from any recognized university in 2025.

Their Ph.D. theses should be original work predominantly in the field of sol-gel science and technology.

Adjudication
The ISGS decides the prize winner based on the recommendation by a Ph.D. Award Committee designed by the Board of Directors of ISGS.

The purpose of the award is to highlight excellent Ph.D. research in the field of sol-gel science and technology.

The Ph.D. Award Committee, composed of experts, will assess the merit of the applications and recommend the winner to the ISGS Board of Directors.

The assessment of the Ph.D. Award Committee, based on the Executive Summary provided in the candidate’s proposal and on the supporting evidence from the Ph.D. thesis document itself, will rely on the following criteria:

• The level to which the thesis work adds significant new contributions to advances in the scientific knowledge in the field of sol-gel science and technology.
• The content and quality of the Executive Summary submitted by the candidate.

The impact and relevance of the Ph.D. thesis measured in terms of dissemination of the Ph.D. outputs into the scientific community by the candidate (articles published and oral communications presented at scientific events).
Rules
Candidates must have defended the Ph.D. thesis in public and received the Ph.D. degree from a recognized university in 2025.

• The candidate’s Ph.D. thesis should be original work in the field of sol-gel science and technology.
• Candidates must submit an online application by Mach 31, 2026.
• The ISGS Board of Directors decides the prize winner based on the recommendation by the Ph.D. Award Committee and this decision cannot be challenged.
• The application must contain:
  • A proforma application.
  • A CV file.
  • An Executive Summary of the Ph.D. thesis, of not more than 15 pages, highlighting the relevance and contribution of the work to the field of sol-gel science and technology. Candidates should note that the content of their Executive Summary will be the primary source of the Ph.D. Award Committee’s consideration.
  • An electronic copy of the Ph.D. thesis.
  • A letter from their main Ph.D. supervisor and from the Ph.D. co-supervisor (if applicable) recommending the candidate for consideration for this prize and confirming that the candidate meets all the criteria for eligibility for the competition.

Deadline

March 31, 2026

Atsushi Shimojima

Gulaim Seisenbaeva

Member of the ISGS Board