Early Career Prize: Nuclear Industry Group

The aim of the prize is to:

• promote the role of physicists within the nuclear industry;
• promote innovation in the nuclear industry; and
• reward effort and commitment to advancing the nuclear industry.

The prize is to be presented annually to a physicist, in the early stages of their career, in the nuclear industry. It will be awarded to the nominee who the judging panel feel has most fully displayed outstanding levels of innovative thinking, enthusiasm and determination in addressing a project or problem in their working environment.

The solution to the project or problem in question must have required the application of the skills and understanding that are expected from a professional physicist working in an industrial environment. 

There is a cash prize of £200. The winners will also receive a framed certificate from the IOP and will be invited to a suitable group event to be presented with their award.  

What to include in the submission

• a description of the challenge and how it was addressed by the nominee. If this is sensitive information, please notify the group chair before submission. We can put measures in place to allow your submission to be considered. This description should be no more than 500 words. It can include diagrams or photographs;
• a statement of support from the nominee’s line manager and/or a client; and
• a brief CV outlining the nominee’s experience in the industry and their background. This should be no more than two sides of A4.

Nominations are considered by a panel of group committee members and co-opted specialist panel members as required. Their decision is final.

Eligibility

Nominees for the early career prize must:

• be a member or associate member of the IOP; and
• have worked in the nuclear industry for no more than 10 years (allowance is made for career breaks).

Nominations can be made by anyone, including the nominee.

Apply now

Submit nominations to the chair of the IOP Nuclear Industry Group Prize Committee, Rob Shearman, at [email protected]. The deadline is Wednesday 31 January 2024.

Winners

2020

Allan Simpson

For the technical leadership demonstrated in his co-ordination of the Nuclear Data arm of the UK's Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme, and his work on innovate projects within the field of nuclear data including research into blockchain technologies.

2019

Jacob Home

For important first steps in his career by engaging with outreach, by innovating in a broad scope of work, and thereby having an impact on the world around him.

2016 

Rebecca Houghton

For her excellent work for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on the future strategic direction for management of radioactive material stockpiles in the UK, proposed to the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

2015 

David Hughes

For his leadership of a team to develop a suitable decay heat methodology with associated validation and uncertainties associated with the proposed Sizewell B Dry Fuel Store.

2014

Chris Holland

For his work on the Lower Ports nuclear analysis project for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) fusion reactor.

2013

Rhodri Morgan

For his leadership of the development of laser-induced-breakdown spectroscopy as a tool for the monitoring of nuclear waste packets.

2012

Craig Shearer

For his work to develop a practical system using cosmic-ray muons to analyse the contents of intermediate-level waste containers.

2011

Lindsay Cox

For her innovative approach and leadership in establishing and promoting the practical application of muon-scattering tomography detection techniques capability.