Van Deemter Prize
Each year, the Analytical Chemistry Section (SAC) presents the Van Deemter Prize for the best thesis (MSc or HBO BSc) with a clear analytical chemistry component. The prize, which is funded by the KNCV Board and the SAC, consists of a certificate and a cash award of €1,000.
Previously, the prize was called the “Master Award” and was awarded every two years. Since 2019, the name of the prize has been changed to the Van Deemter Prize.
Van Deemter
Jan Jozef van Deemter (Kellen, March 31, 1918 – Bussum, October 10, 2004) was a Dutch physicist and engineer who gained international renown for the Van Deemter equation.
The Van Deemter equation is an equation used in chromatography to establish a relationship between the elution rate and the plate height for a separation column. It is still used today to explain and improve chromatographic separations.
Candidates
Young researchers of all nationalities who have conducted MSc or HBO BSc research with a clear analytical chemistry component are eligible for the Van Deemter Prize. Candidates must have contributed to the field by developing new or significantly improved analytical methods or by applying existing chemical analytical methods in research in areas such as life sciences, medical and clinical fields, the environment, and energy. The work may have been conducted in an academic, industrial, and/or institutional setting. The work must have been carried out primarily in the Netherlands, under the auspices of a Dutch university or university of applied sciences, and within two years prior to the deadline.
Nomination Procedure
Candidates for the Van Deemter Prize may be nominated at any time. Nominations must be submitted via email, in Dutch or English, to sac@kncv.nl, with the subject line “Van Deemter Prize.” A nomination must be accompanied by the (draft) thesis as a PDF file, as well as the candidate’s curriculum vitae and a brief letter of motivation. For further information, please also contact the email address mentioned above. Nominations are evaluated by the selection committee in November. The winner is announced at the annual symposium The Analytical Challenge (TAC).
Selection Committee
The Van Deemter Prize is awarded based on the recommendation of a selection committee appointed by the SAC board. Candidates and their work are evaluated against criteria such as demonstrated competence in analytical chemistry research, scientific originality, quality, productivity, and insight into the field and its challenges.