ACS Award in Pure Chemistry Grant

The ACS Award in Pure Chemistry recognizes early career researchers for their outstanding contributions to fundamental research in pure chemistry. Established in 1931, the award includes a $5,000 prize and reimbursement for up to $1,000 in travel expenses to the award presentation meeting. Nominees must have less than 10 years of experience since their terminal degree and demonstrate exceptional research merit. Special consideration is given to originality and independence of thought in submitted research.

NOTE: Nomination period extended due to the impacts of the federal government shutdown on many of our members, we have extended the nomination period for the 2027 National Awards until December 15 at 11:59 PM ET.
Purpose
To recognize and encourage fundamental research in pure chemistry by early career researchers.
Description
The award consists of $5,000 and a certificate. Up to $1,000 for travel expenses to the meeting at which the award will be presented will be reimbursed.
The award was established in 1931 by A. In 1938, James Kendall sponsored the award. No award was presented in 1939. In 1940, Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity assumed sponsorship of the award.

Eligibility

A nominee must have fewer than 10 years of experience since their terminal degree and must have accomplished research of unusual merit for an individual on the threshold of their career.Nominees are not required to be members of the Society unless the submission is for the ACS Award for Team Innovation (which requires at least one team member to be an ACS member in good standing), the ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry, the Award for Volunteer Service to the ACS, the Kathryn C. Hach Award for Entrepreneurial Success, or the Charles Lathrop Parsons Award.
The nominee’s accomplishments should be specific to the purpose of the award.
In general, a recipient of a widely recognized scientific award is not eligible for an ACS National Award unless the accomplishment cited as the basis for the nomination represents new or different work.
An individual who has received an ACS National Award may be nominated for a different ACS National Award if the nomination is for clearly different work from the previous award (the letter of recommendation must address the differences between the work performed for the previous ACS National Award and that which is addressed in the current nomination) orat least five years has elapsed since the previous ACS National Award was received. The five year rule is waived for the preceptor(s) of the students who are eligible to receive the Nobel Laureate Signature Award for Graduate Education in Chemistry.