BTM Willis Prize

The BTM Willis prize is named in honour of Prof. Terry Willis – founder of the UK Neutron Scattering Group, and the well-known for Harwell (later Oxford) School of Neutron Scattering. Since 2001, the UK Neutron Scattering Group awards the prize annually to an early career researcher in recognition of a single outstanding piece of work, or a longer-term coherent body of work, in the application of neutron scattering to a significant problem in physics, chemistry, materials science, earth science, the life sciences, or engineering, or alternatively in recognition of a major development in neutron scattering instrumentation or techniques.

The prize is awarded to an individual in recognition of a single outstanding piece of work, or a longer term coherent body of work, in the application of neutron scattering to a significant problem in physics, chemistry, materials science, earth science, the life sciences, or engineering, or alternatively in recognition of a major development in neutron scattering instrumentation or techniques.

Eligibility

The recipient of the prize will normally be an early career scientist, i.e. in the first 12 years of a research career (allowing for career breaks) following the award of a first degree, who has made a substantial contribution to the development or reputation of physics / Chemistry / Biology in the UK or Ireland.

Judging process:

The panel to judge the prize will comprise the Neutron Scattering Group committee and external experts asked to join the panel to contribute expertise not covered by the committee members. Committee members with a potential conflict of interest (e.g. supervisor or former supervisor of the candidate, or from the same department as the candidate) will not be involved in assessing that candidate’s nomination.

The panel will assess the impact of each candidate’s work in terms of its quality, originality, rigour and significance, based on the evidence put forward by the candidate and their referees. Metrics such as journal impact factor and citation data will be of minor importance given the cross-disciplinary nature of the field of neutron work.

Previous Winners

• 2023: Dr. Otto Mustonen, University of Birmingham
• 2022: Dr Alexander O’Malley, University of Bath
• 2021: Dr. Joe Paddison, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• 2020: Dr. Emily Draper, University of Glasgow
• 2019: Dr. Lucy Clark, University of Liverpool
• 2018: Dr. Roger H. Johnson, University of Oxford
• 2017: Dr Andrew Seel, University College London
• 2016: Dr Katharina Edkins, Durham University
• 2015: Dr Aleksandra Dabkowska, King’s College London
• 2014: Dr Anita Zeidler, University of Bath
• 2013: Dr Sihai Yang, University of Nottingham
• 2012: Dr Sylvia Ellen McLain, University of Oxford
• 2011: Dr Robert Dalgliesh, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
• 2008: Dr Radu Coldea, University of Bristol
• 2006: Dr Giovanna Fragneto, Institut Laue-Langevin
• 2004: Dr. Andrew Wills, University College London
• 2003: Dr. Toby Perring, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
• 2001: Dr. Chick Wilson, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source