EPS-QEOD Prizes
EPS-QEOD Prize for Research in Laser Science and Applications
Nominations are to be received on line by February 16, 2026 at the latest. All material must be prepared in English and combined into either a single consolidated PDF file or a ZIP archive.
The 2026 Prize for Research in Laser Science and Applications will be awarded on behalf of the European Physical Society through its Quantum Electronics & Optics Division (QEOD) during Europhon 2026.
The European Physical Society (EPS) Prize for Research in Laser Science and Applications is a major prize awarded on behalf of the EPS through its Quantum Electronics & Optics Division (QEOD). The prize is awarded every 2 years in recognition of recent work by one or more individuals (no more than three) for scientific excellence in the area of laser science and applications in its broadest sense. Relevant topics include laser source development, power-scaling concepts, pump source development, nonlinear optics, ultrafast sources, material science, spectroscopic and characterisation techniques, and applications both in optics and photonics as well as in other fields.
The award will be accompanied by an engraved glass medal, a certificate, and a cash prize of 2,000 euros.
Nominations must include:
- Cover letter from the nominator (not required for self-nominations)
- Citation
- Two-page summary of the work’s significance (for teams, specify each member’s contribution, and when/where the work was done)
- Nominee CV(s)
- List of publications from the last five years (include earlier key works; highlight five most significant)
- Up to three endorsement letters
Please prepare all materials in English and submit them as either a single consolidated PDF file or a ZIP archive. Self-nominations are eligible for consideration.
EPS-QEOD Prize for Research into the Science of Light
Nominations are to be received on line by November 02, 2025 at the latest. All material must be prepared in English and combined into either a single consolidated PDF file or a ZIP archive.
The 6th Prize for Research into the Science of Light will be awarded on behalf of the European Physical Society through its Quantum Electronics & Optics Division (QEOD) during Nanometa 2026.
The European Physical Society (EPS) Prize for Research into the Science of Light is a major prize awarded on behalf of the EPS through its Quantum Electronics & Optics Division (QEOD). The prize is awarded every 2 years in recognition of recent work by one or more individuals (no more than three) for scientific excellence in the area of electromagnetic science in its broadest sense, across the entire spectrum of electromagnetic waves.
The award will be accompanied by an engraved glass medal, a certificate, and a cash prize of 2,000 euros.
Nominations must include:
- Cover letter from the nominator (not required for self-nominations)
- Citation
- Two-page summary of the work’s significance (for teams, specify each member’s contribution, and when/where the work was done)
- Nominee CV(s)
- List of publications from the last five years (include earlier key works; highlight five most significant)
- Up to three endorsement letters
Please prepare all materials in English and submit them as either a single consolidated PDF file or a ZIP archive. Self-nominations are eligible for consideration.
EPS-QEOD Quantum Electronics & Optics Prizes
Among
its most prestigious prizes, the Quantum Electronics and Optics
division (QEOD) of the European Physical Society (EPS) distributes the
Quantum Electronics and Optics Prizes. These are the two senior
EPS/QEOD prizes (one for fundamental, one for applied aspects) awarded
for outstanding contributions to quantum electronics and optics.
Awarded
every two years, these prizes recognize the highest level of
achievements in fundamental and applied research in optical physics. The
awards are presented in a special Plenary Ceremony generally held on
Tuesday morning, during the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics
Europe (CLEO®/Europe) and the European Quantum Electronics Conference
(EQEC), held in Munich, Germany taking place in uneven years.
The prize
winners are each to receive a diploma, a medal and 5000 euros.
Requested
material: A CV of the nominee, a brief description of the nominee's
achievements, a list of key publications, patents, etc., and least two
additional letters of endorsement of the nomination, all prepared in
pdf-format, as a single pdf, or zip file. A proposed citation (200
characters including spaces) will be required.
Two
EPS-QEOD prizes will be awarded for outstanding contributions to
quantum electronics and optics made by young scientists before the age
of 35 (as of December 31st, 2025). There is one prize for fundamental
aspects and one prize for applied aspects. The prize winners are each to receive a diploma, a medal and 2000 euros.
Requested
material: A CV of the nominee, a brief description of the nominee's
achievements, a list of key publications, patents, etc., and least two
additional letters of endorsement of the nomination, all prepared in
pdf-format, as a single pdf, or zip file. A proposed citation (200
characters including spaces) will be required.
Four EPS/QEOD prizes will be awarded to reward excellence in PhD research and scientific communication in quantum electronics and optics related to a PhD thesis defended in the period 1st January 2023 - March 2025. These prizes will be awarded for fundamental and for applied aspects. The prize winners are each to receive a diploma and 1000 euros.
Two
short research summaries prepared by the candidate will form the
central part of the award criteria. If it is not a self-nomination, the nomination must be made by either one of the thesis external examiners or a senior researcher from an external institution who is familiar with the student’s work (excluding the supervisor or co-supervisor).. The recommendation letter(s) and the summary by the
nominee should clearly identify the original contributions of the
candidate, in particular if the thesis is part of a larger group effort.
For the EPS QEOD Thesis Prize, a nomination must contain:
* A one page summary of the thesis work prepared by the nominee, clearly identifying the original technical contributions of the nominee to the research presented.
* A one page summary of the thesis work prepared by the nominee, which summarizes background, main results and impact of the work on a level accessible to a broad audience in physics. This second summary should be prepared in the style of a short commentary piece.
* A short CV, list of achievements and associated publications
* Support letters from thesis examiners are mandatory. Support letters from thesis examiners other than the nominator (if applicable) can be received.