Division de Chimie-Physique - DCP Doctoral Dissertation Award

DCP Doctoral Dissertation Award

For an outstanding, completed doctoral thesis in the field of physical chemistry, you will receive a cash prize of 500 EUR. Should two theses be awarded the prize in the same year, the sum of 500 EUR will be divided equally between the two prize-winners. The prize is sponsored by the Division de Chimie-Physique (DCP), a joint body of the French Chemical Society (SCF) and the French Physical Society (SFP). As a prize winner, you will give a short presentation on your work at the next DCP event and, within one year, write an article about it for the journal ‘L’Actualité Chimique’.

Who can apply

• Degree: You have written and successfully defended a doctoral thesis (PhD). For the 2026 Prize, you defended your thesis in the calendar year 2025, i.e. in the year prior to the award ceremony.
• Field of study: Your dissertation focuses on physical chemistry. This includes analytical chemistry, electrochemistry, theoretical chemistry, thermodynamics, radiochemistry, spectroscopy, photochemistry and related fields of research at the interface with physics, biology, earth sciences and nanosciences.
• Where you studied: Any university or research institution may apply.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

Please send your application as a single PDF file (under 10 MB) by email to the two contact persons for the prize at the University of Lyon, 1. The deadline for applications for the 2026 Prize is 15 April 2026. Your file must contain the official application form, a detailed CV, a summary of your doctoral thesis, the defence documents and the external examiners’ reports, as well as a link to your doctoral thesis manuscript.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize has strict eligibility criteria: only those who have successfully defended a doctoral thesis in the field of physical chemistry within the past year may apply, so the pool of applicants is small. If your doctoral thesis clearly falls within this field and has led to compelling, published results, your prospects are quite good. The cash prize is modest and is often split between two winners, so the real value lies in the recognition and the invitation to present your work.