Best PhD Thesis Award

Launched in 2021, the Cells Best PhD Thesis Award aims to recognize young scholars producing outstanding PhD theses in the field of cell biology, molecular biology, or biophysics and to encourage the continuation of their outstanding work and further contribution to their field. The application process for this award is open from September to May every year, and winners are announced in July.

The Prize:
– Award (CHF 800).
– An electronic certificate.

Number of Winners: 1

Cells Best PhD Thesis Award

Application deadline: 31 May 2026Winner announcement date: 31 July 2026

Apply

Eligibility and Requirements

– The candidate must be a PhD student or recently qualified PhD graduate who has produced an outstanding PhD thesis in the field of cell biology, molecular biology, or biophysics.
– The PhD thesis must be their original work.
– The PhD thesis must be or have been defended in 2025.

List of Documents for Application

– An executive summary of the PhD thesis in English of around 3000 words.
– A letter from the PhD supervisor recommending the candidate for consideration for this award.
– The candidate’s CV, including a list of publications connected with the thesis.
– An electronic copy of the PhD thesis.
– A scanned copy of the PhD diploma (or certificate of studying at a school or research institute as a PhD student going to graduate or participate in graduation thesis defenses).

Past Winners

Winner

NTNimmy Varghese Thiruthanathil
Nimmy Varghese Thiruthanathil
Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, USA

Award Committee

Alexander E. Kalyuzhny
Alexander E. Kalyuzhny
Chairman
University of Minnesota