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 2026. Up to five finalists will be selected to present posters on their research during the Surface Science poster session in the evening of Thursday, November 12, 2026.
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 May 18, 2026.
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
2025 - Soumyajit Rajak
2024 - Johanna Hütner
2023 - Audrey Dannar
2022 - Volkan Cinar
2021 - Ryan Hannagan
2020 - Sayantan Mahapatra
2019 - Zhongtian Mao
2018 - Eric High
2017 - Rachael G. Farber
2016 - Andrew Therrien
2015 - Holly Walen
2014 - Feng Zhang
2013 - Xiaofeng Feng
2012 - April Jewell
2011 - David Siegel
2010 - Heather Tierney
2009 - Qing Hua
2008 - Jeibin Sun
2008 - Zhuhua Cai
2007 - Bogdan Diaconescu
2007 - John Srachan
2006 - Petro Maksymovych
2005 - Jan Haubrich
2004 - Emrah Ozensoy
2003 - Marcel A. Wall
2002 - Seth B. Darling
2001 - Jeppe Vang Lauritsen
2000 - Anders Carlsson
1999 - Jongin Hahn
1998 - Alexander Bogicevic
1997 - Barry Stipe
1996 - Joseph Carpinelli
1995 - Frank Zimmerman
1994 - Bert Müller
1993 - Anna Swan
1992 - Chaochin Su
1991 - David Peale
1990 - Benjamin Wiegand
1989 - Yunong (Neal) Yang
1988 - Jeff Hanson
1987 - Michael Henderson
1986 - Greg Sitz
1985 - Duan Outka
1984 - Hans Gossman
1983 - Ann Smith
1982 - Steven Gates
1981 - Eric Stuve
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)