University College London - Alfred Bader Prize in Organic Chemistry

Alfred Bader Prize in Organic Chemistry (UCL)

You get a one-off award of about 1,150 EUR (1,000 GBP) for research in organic chemistry at University College London (UCL). One award is given each year to the best undergraduate who moves on to a research degree in organic chemistry. The prize was set up in 1990 with a donation from the chemist and businessman who ran the Sigma-Aldrich chemical company. The winner is announced each October.

Who can apply

• Your degree so far: You are finishing an Honours degree in Chemistry at UCL.
• What you do next: You move straight on to a research degree (an MPhil or PhD, both advanced degrees where you carry out your own research) in the UCL Department of Chemistry.
• Field: Your research is in organic chemistry, the chemistry of carbon-based compounds.
• Where you study: You stay at UCL in the United Kingdom.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

Contact the UCL Department of Chemistry directly, as there is no automatic selection. The closing date is 1 May, and the winner is announced in October.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is cut very narrowly. Only UCL chemistry graduates who go straight into an organic chemistry research degree at UCL qualify, and just one award is given each year. That keeps the eligible group small, and it goes to the strongest candidate, so grades and research promise decide it. If you are the clear top student in organic chemistry at UCL, your prospects are good. Otherwise the single-award format makes it hard to count on.