GIMS Eigler Award

GIMS Eigler Award

Program Description

In honor of Donald M. Eigler, GIMS, in coordination with the organizers of the International Conference on Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM), is proud to offer the Eigler Award biennially.

The Eigler Award is an early-career research award, recognizing outstanding doctoral research and innovative doctoral contributions to the field of scanning probe microscopy. Five finalists will be invited to present a talk during the finals at the STM conference, where the winner will be selected. The winner will be announced during the STM conference and will then be awarded both a travel reimbursement, as well as an invited talk at the following APS Global Physics Summit.

Eligibility and Nomination Process

Nominees must:

• Be a current PhD students and recent PhD graduates (graduation date within 24 months from the nomination deadline)

• Hold APS membership (GIMS membership encouraged, but not required)

Candidates may be nominated by their PhD advisor or a collaborator. Self-nominations are not permitted.

Nominations should include the following:

• Letter of support from the nominator, not to exceed 5,000 characters

• Curriculum vitae highlighting the nominee’s academic achievements (including a list of published and planned manuscripts)

• Research overview and personal statement prepared by the nominee (maximum 2 pages). This document should summarize the nominee’s research contributions and include a statement on how receiving the award would support their career development and future goals.

Nominations for the 2027-2028 cycle will open September 14, 2026. To submit your nomination, please follow this link and complete the nomination form. 

Evaluation Criteria

The nominations will be reviewed by the Eigler Honors Committee. The Eigler Honors Committee will consist of at least 4 members and is co-chaired by the GIMS secretary-treasurer and a representative of the STM conference steering committee. The composition of the Eigler Honors Committee is reconstituted every biennial cycle.

Reviewers will consider:

• Scientific Merit and Novelty

• How groundbreaking or innovative is the work? Does it meaningfully advance beyond previous work in scanning probe microscopy?

• Research Rigor

• Are experimental and/or theoretical methods appropriate, clearly described, and reproducible? Are findings robust, with adequate statistical treatment and controls?

• Impact and Significance

• Does the work have the potential to move the field forward? Does the work have broader implications and fundamental or technological significance?

• Clarity and Communication 

• Research Overview and Personal Statement: Lucid, well-structured, and compelling narrative.

• Candidate Profile

• Leadership and degree of independence: How substantial is the contribution of the applicant (vs. research group and/or collaborators) to the presented research?

• Academic Record

• CV and Letter of Support reflecting excellence and strong potential for future success

During the live finals at the STM conference, the finalists will be re-evaluated using the same evaluation criteria above, in addition to evaluation of presenters’ clear oral delivery, effective visuals, and high-quality Q&A responses during the finals at the STM conference.

Upcoming Cycle Timeline

About Donald M. Eigler

Donald M. Eigler is a pioneer in the field of scanning probe microscopy whose innovations in measurement science and instrumentation have shaped the field of scanning probe microscopy. To read more about his contributions and continuing legacy, please read his autobiography, Doors of Opportunity.