The Kathleen Lonsdale RIA Chemistry Prize

The Kathleen Lonsdale RIA Chemistry Prize, formally known as the Young Chemist Prize, was established at the Academy in 2000. Since its inauguration, the Royal Irish Academy works each year with the expert members of the Physical, Chemistry and Mathematical committee to select a winner based on the most outstanding Irish PhD thesis in the general area of the chemical sciences.

A graphic with Kathleen Lonsdale and geometric shapes.

The prize, kindly sponsored by Henkel, includes an award of €2,000. The winner will also be nominated by the Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences Committee to compete amongst the top young chemists in the world in the IUPAC-SOLVAY International Award for Young Chemists

Applying & Eligibility for The Kathleen Lonsdale RIA Chemistry Prize

Information required to apply and requirements for application to the Kathleen Londsdale RIA Chemistry Prize

Kathleen Lonsdale

Read the Dictionary of Irish Biography entry for Kathleen Lonsdale

Previous Winners

Pat Guiry, Billy McCarthy, Christine O'Connor, Niamh O'Boyle and Hugh Fay stand outside the Royal Irish Academy on Dawson Street, Dublin. Billy McCarthy is holding a framed certificate.

Royal Irish Academy awards 2024 Kathleen Lonsdale RIA Chemistry Prize to Dr Billy McCarthy

Recent graduate of TU Dublin recognised for his innovative work addressing the presence of chlorate in dairy products.

Dr Priyanka Ganguly wins Kathleen Lonsdale RIA Chemistry Prize 2022

Dr Priyanka Ganguly, a recent PhD graduate of the Institute of Technology Sligo, has been awarded the 2022 Kathleen Lonsdale RIA Chemistry Prize for the best chemistry PhD thesis in Ireland. This prestigious prize is named in honour of the famous Irish x-ray crystallographer Kathleen Lonsdale and announced today to mark her birthday.

Dr Yikai Xu wins the Kathleen Lonsdale RIA Chemistry Prize

Dr Yikai Xu was selected as this year’s winner for the most outstanding Irish PhD thesis in the general area of the chemical sciences in the Henkel sponsored prize.

Dr Xinxin Xiao wins Kathleen Lonsdale Prize 2018

Dr. Xinxin Xiao, a PhD graduate of University Limerick, has been selected as this year’s winner of the Royal Irish Academy’s Kathleen Lonsdale Chemistry Prize, sponsored by Henkel.