University of Oxford - David Ryan Memorial Prize

David Ryan Memorial Prize

As a PhD student at the University of Oxford, you will receive a one-off cash prize of about 350 EUR (£300) for outstanding research in the field of physics. The prize is awarded annually by the University’s Department of Physics. It honours Dr David T. Ryan, an Oxford physicist who came first in his final year in 1993 and who died in a road traffic accident in 2004.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a PhD student in physics at Oxford.
• Year of study: You are in the second year of your PhD.
• Field: You work in the field of solid-state physics, which involves the study of solids and other dense forms of matter.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Performance: You have carried out some outstanding research. This prize is awarded to the best second-year students.

How to apply

There is no separate application process. The department awards the prize on the basis of academic merit, with the assessment partly based on the annual poster session, at which second-year students present their work.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is very narrowly defined: only PhD students in solid-state physics in their second year of their doctoral studies at Oxford are eligible, so the pool of candidates is small. You cannot apply directly, so it all comes down to the quality of your research and your poster. If your work stands out significantly from that of your peers in your year group, you have a real chance.