Division of Polymers, Colloids & Interfaces (DPCI)

The aims of the DPCI are

• to promote research and education in all aspects related to macromolecular science, colloids and soft matter.
• to foster and strengthen the community network.
• to inform members about the latest results and trends and provide a forum for discussion.
• to promote interaction between the different disciplines of macromolecular science, soft matter and colloids as well as between basic research and application and between academia and industry.
• to establish and maintain links with like-minded professional societies and institutions in Switzerland and abroad.

Main activities

• Organize Polycoll, an annual conference with national and international experts
• Chair the Polymers, Colloids & Interfaces sessions at the SCS Fall Meetings.
• Collaborate with corresponding divisions of other countries to organize symposia and workshops on topics of current interest.
• Support and promote the activities of the SCS Materials Chemistry Network
• Publish the CHIMIA column ‘Polymers &Colloid Highlights’.
• Publish a CHIMIA issue on the topics Polymers, Colloids & Interfaces on a regular basis.

Prof. Esther Amstad, EPFL Lausanne
President, Soft Materials

Prof. Athina Anastasaki, ETH Zürich
Polymeric Materials

Prof. Paolo Arosio, ETH Zurich
Biochemical Engineering

Dr. Daniel Benczedi, Firmenich
Materials Sciences and Technology

Prof. Bastian Brand, ZHAW Wädenswil
(Ion) chromatography, porous polymers, surface functionalisation

Prof. Christof Brändli, ZHAW Winterthur
Adhesives and Polymer Materials

Prof. Jonathan De Roo, University Basel
Polymer Chemistry and Materials

Dr. Sara Fornera, Sika
Materials Sciences

Prof. Holger Frauenrath, EPFL Lausanne
Macromolecular and Organic Materials

Prof. Harm-Anton Klok, EPFL Lausanne
Polymer design at nanoscale, biologically-inspired polymers

Dr. Dorina Opris, EMPA
Funcional Polymers

Dr. Laurent Sagalowicz, Nestlé, Lausanne
Lipid Expert

Prof. Christoph Weder, Adolph Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg
Polymer Chemistry and Materials

Goal of the Award
Featuring rising stars in the field of Polymers, Colloids & Interfaces (PCI).

Requirements to apply for the Award
Having defended a PhD in the area of PCI within Switzerland between May of the previous year and end of April of the evaluation year (e.g. May 2023 - April 2024). 

Nomination
Candidates are nominated by the PhD adviser. The following documents have to be submitted:

• nomination letter from PhD advisor that states the contribution of the nominee to the paper attached to this nomination and puts it in perspective to the entire PhD thesis the candidate performed
• CV of the candidate
• the best first author paper of the thesis
• 0.5 page motivation letter of the candidate that states her/his contribution to the paper submitted to this nomination

Nominations have to be submitted to by May 1 of each year.

Evaluation criteria

• Scientific quality and impact of the published work in the field of PCI
• Originality of the published work
• Creativity of the study design or uniqueness of the approaches and concepts employed in the published work
• Clarity of presentation

Evaluation committee
Scientists that work in the area of PCI.

Winner / Candidates not considered
The winner as well as all candidates that could not be considered are informed on a personal basis after the evaluation committee meeting (mail and/or letter from the DPCI president).
The winner gets a certificate and a prize money of CHF 1’000.
The winner must present an invited talk within the DPCI session of the SCS Fall Meeting.

Sponsor
  The price is sponsored by Sika Technology AG

Previous Winners
2023: Matteo Hirsch, EPFL Lausanne
2022: Alexandre H. C. Anthis, ETH Zurich/Empa Dübendorf

Vol. 76, 10/2022: Polymers, Colloids and Interfaces
Vol. 75, 05/2021: Colloidal Nanocrystals
Vol. 71, 06/2017: Polymer, Colloid, and Interface Science 
Vol. 67, 11/2013: Polymers, Colloids, and Interfaces
Vol. 67, 06/2013: Coordination Polymers: From Structures to Applications
Vol. 62, 10/2008: Polymers and Colloids Division