The HEAD Dissertation Prize

The HEAD Dissertation Prize is awarded by the HEAD Executive Committee at the time of the Division Meeting (every 12-18 months, approximately) to recognize an outstanding doctoral dissertation in high-energy astrophysics. 

The prize includes a $1500 award and a framed certificate for the prize winner. The HEAD covers up to $1500 of the winner's travel expenses  (transportation and lodging) to attend the meeting.  Travel and lodging expenses for finalists is not supported.  HEAD will waive registration fees for the meeting for all finalists.

The 2025 Dissertation Prize Winner: Marcus DuPont

The 2025 Dissertation Prize is awarded to Dr. Marcus DuPont for discovering novel explosion geometries and computing their dynamics and observational signatures as high energy astrophysical transients, using his original publicly-released heterogeneous GPU-enabled relativistic magnetohydrodynamics code ‘Simbi’.

Honarable Mentions for the 2025 Dissertation Prize: 

• Calvin Leung for foundational work on interferometric techniques in the observation of fast radio bursts.

• Steve Sclafani for first observation of neutrinos from the Milky Way.

Citations of previous Dissertation prize winners

The Nomination Process

Those who have received their degree within 3 years prior to the HEAD meeting date are eligible for the prize. Those who have not had their degree conferred by the nomination deadline should wait for the next opportunity to apply.

The due date for nomination materials to be submitted to the HEAD Secretary will be approximately six months before the HEAD division meeting. The following materials should be submitted, with at least one letter written by a HEAD member (letters of recommendation may be sent directly to the HEAD secretary). Self-nominations are not accepted.

• A 3-page summary of the thesis (not to exceed 5 pages total including figures and bibliography)
• A nomination letter, nominally by the thesis supervisor and acceptably by any HEAD member except the nominee, including a statement certifying that the PhD has been awarded
• Two additional letters of recommendation
• CV and publication list

Nominations can be submitted using the Dissertation Prize nomination form.

Please note that nominations are not held over; nominations need to be re-submitted  for consideration in the next award cycle, 

The Award Process

A winner and two finalists for the Dissertation Prize will be chosen by the Executive Committee from the list of nominees.  The winner and finalists will receive invitations to present 30-minute talks on their dissertation work at a scientific meeting organized by the HEAD.  The HEAD will waive registration fees for the winner and finalists.  The winner will be presented with a framed award certificate.  The HEAD will re-imburse travel expenses (transportation and lodging) up to $1500 for the winner.

Deadline

The current deadline for nominations is September 15th, 2025.