Morton M. Traum Surface Science Student Award
The Surface Science Division (SSD) solicits nominations for the Morton M. Traum Surface Science Student Award to be given to the best student presenter at the AVS International Symposium.
Who can apply? Eligible candidates are those who are either a current PhD student or have received their PhD in 2025. Up to five finalists will be selected to present posters on their research during the Surface Science poster session in the evening of Thursday, 25 September 2025.
What are the prizes? All finalists and the winner will receive cash prizes and certificates. The winner’s name will be added to the list of previous winners in the Symposium technical program, the AVS website, and on a plaque on display at the Symposium.
How do I participate?
- First, submit an abstract here for either an oral or poster presentation.
- Start the award nomination here; Type: Student award, Category: Student – Divisional SSD Mort Traum
- You will need the following (in PDF format)
- A 2-page (maximum) CV, that included education and employment history with dates, research interests, professional service and outreach, and recognitions and awards;
- A copy of the email confirming your abstract was submitted to the AVS;
- An extended abstract (two pages or less, including tables, figures, and references) highlighting the significance of your work;
- Expected or actual PhD graduate date;
- Two letters of recommendation, one must be from your primary PhD advisor.
Submission deadline via the AVS website is
April 14, 2025.
The Award competition is based on the poster presented at the Symposium. Traum finalists are permitted to give an oral presentation, in addition to the Traum contest poster, with the same abstract. The Traum poster contest is a special event in the AVS program, and if an abstract for an oral presentation is submitted, an additional poster will be automatically added.
Awards Application
List of Recipients
| 1981 |
Eric Stuve |
1998 |
Alexander Bogicevic |
2015 |
Holly Walen |
| 1982 |
Steven Gates |
1999 |
Jongin Hahn |
2016 |
Andrew Therrien |
| 1983 |
Ann Smith |
2000 |
Anders Carlsson |
2017 |
Rachael G. Farber |
| 1984 |
Hans Gossman |
2001 |
Jeppe Vang Lauritsen |
2018 |
Eric High |
| 1985 |
Duan Outka |
2002 |
Seth B. Darling |
2019 |
Zhongtian Mao |
| 1986 |
Greg Sitz |
2003 |
Marcel A. Wall |
2020 |
Sayantan Mahapatra |
| 1987 |
Michael Henderson |
2004 |
Emrah Ozensoy |
2021 |
Ryan Hannagan |
| 1988 |
Jeff Hanson |
2005 |
Jan Haubrich |
2022 |
Volkan Cinar |
| 1989 |
Yunong (Neal) Yang |
2006 |
Petro Maksymovych |
2023 |
Audrey Dannar |
| 1990 |
Benjamin Wiegand |
2007 |
Bogdan Diaconescu |
2024 |
Johanna Hütner |
| 1991 |
David Peale |
2008 |
Jeibin Sun |
|
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| 1992 |
Chaochin Su |
2009 |
Qing Hua |
|
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| 1993 |
Anna Swan |
2010 |
Heather Tierney |
|
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| 1994 |
Bert Müller |
2011 |
David Siegel |
|
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| 1995 |
Frank Zimmerman |
2012 |
April Jewell |
|
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| 1996 |
Joseph Carpinelli |
2013 |
Xiaofeng Feng |
|
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| 1997 |
Barry Stipe |
2014 |
Feng Zhang |
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Winner of the 2024 Morton M. Traum Award
From left to right: Johanna Hütner (TU Wien, Austria); Alisson Ceccatto (Uni. of Campinas, Brazil); Arjun Subedi (Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, US);
Prof. Irene Groot (Leiden University, Nederlands); Elizabeth Happel (Tufts University, US); Prof. Florencia Calaza (Uni. Nacional del Litoral, Argentina)
Winner of the 2023 Morton M. Traum Award
From Left to Right:
Award Committee member Zhenrong Zhang, chair Dario Stacchiola and finalists:
Alexander Michael Imre TU Wien, Austria.
Dairong Liu University of Illinois – Chicago
Audrey Dannar, Tufts University
Mari Isagoda Keio University, Japan.
Winner of the 2022 Morton M. Traum Award
Volkan Cinar (Winner 2022 Morton M. Traum Award), pictured with Traum Award Committee Chair Florencia Calaza
Winner of the 2019 Morton M. Traum Award
Zhongtian Mao (Winner 2019 Morton M. Traum Award)