The Austrian Society for Metallurgy and Materials - Franz Leitner Award

Franz Leitner Award (ASMET)

For an outstanding final-year project in the field of welding technology, you will receive a one-off cash prize: 2,000 EUR for the best doctoral dissertation and 1,000 EUR for the best master's thesis. Each prize will be presented, together with a certificate, at the ASMET Forum. The prize money is provided by voestalpine Böhler Welding Austria GmbH. The prize is organised by ASMET, the Austrian Society for Metallurgy and Materials Science, and is awarded every two years. It is named after Franz Leitner, an Austrian welding expert.

Who can apply

• What you submit: A Master’s thesis or doctoral thesis closely related to welding technology. You must submit a short summary as well as the full thesis.
• How recent: Your dissertation was completed no more than 3 years ago.
• Age: You are up to 35 years old.
• Where you studied: You work in Austria.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.

How to apply

You should apply in writing to ASMET, submitting a short summary and your full thesis. If your thesis is subject to confidentiality, the summary alone will suffice for the time being. A panel comprising representatives from ASMET and the university will then select the winners by majority vote.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is awarded to only a very small number of recipients. In each cycle, only one Master’s thesis and one doctoral thesis in the field of welding technology from Austria are recognised. The pool of eligible theses is small; so if your thesis is up to date, clearly falls within this field and is of high quality, you have a real chance. However, as only two theses are awarded every two years, the quality of your research will ultimately be the deciding factor.