Professor Ronald Gillespie  - Ronald Gillespie Award for Inorganic Chemistry

Ronald Gillespie Award for Inorganic Chemistry

At the start of your PhD, you will receive a one-off award of about 580 EUR (£500). The Department of Chemistry at University College London (UCL) awards this prize each year to the best student commencing a PhD programme in inorganic chemistry – the branch of chemistry that deals with compounds without carbon-hydrogen bonds, such as metals, minerals and salts. The prize is named after Ronald J. Gillespie, a chemist trained at UCL who co-developed the widely used VSEPR model of molecular shape.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are starting a PhD programme (a research degree) at UCL.
• Field of study: You completed your PhD in inorganic chemistry.
• University: You’re studying at the Department of Chemistry at UCL in London.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.
• Merit: The prize is awarded each year to the best first-year student in this department, so outstanding academic achievement is crucial.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is awarded annually to just one student. You do not apply for it; the department selects the best candidate who is commencing a PhD in inorganic chemistry at UCL. The pool of candidates is small, as it is limited to a single department, a single specialism and a single year, but the bar is set very high within this group. Think of it more as recognition of outstanding achievement than as a scholarship that you can use to plan your studies.