Ludo Frevel Crystallography Scholarship 2027: $3,000 Award
Graduate students pursuing research in crystallography-related fields can apply for the 2027 Ludo Frevel Crystallography Scholarship, an academic award administered by the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD).
The scholarship provides $3,000 to selected graduate students for one year and is intended to support education and research in crystallography. The 2027 award also includes a one-year subscription to the PDF-5+ 2027 database.
The application deadline is October 8, 2026, making this an opportunity that eligible students should prepare for immediately.
Ludo Frevel Scholarship 2027 Deadline
The application deadline for the 2027 scholarship is October 8, 2026.
The deadline also applies to the recommendation letter from the applicant's primary research adviser. ICDD states that the adviser will receive an email after the student's application is submitted, and the recommendation must be received by October 8.
Applicants should therefore contact their research adviser early enough to ensure the recommendation is submitted before the closing date.
Who Is Eligible for the Scholarship?
The Ludo Frevel Crystallography Scholarship is intended for graduate students enrolled in a graduate degree programme during the 2027 calendar year.
Applicants must have a major interest in crystallography-related research. Areas specifically identified by ICDD include:
Crystal structure analysis
Crystal morphology
Modulated structures
Correlation of atomic structure with physical properties
Systematic classification of crystal structures
Phase identification
Materials characterization
Students whose expected graduation date is before July 1, 2027, are not eligible for the 2027 award.
How Much Is the Scholarship Worth?
Each successful 2027 applicant will receive a $3,000 scholarship award.
The award is for one year. A recipient may apply for one renewal at the end of the first year, although renewal is competitive and is considered alongside other applications received for that cycle.
The scholarship is designed to support the student's education and research programme. ICDD also allows part of the award to be used for registration fees and travel to accredited scientific meetings related to crystallography when the recipient is presenting research conducted as part of their graduate studies.
What Research Areas Qualify?
Crystallography is an interdisciplinary field that contributes to research in areas including physics, chemistry, geology, molecular biology, metallurgy and materials science.
The scholarship is therefore relevant to graduate students whose research uses crystallographic methods or focuses on understanding crystal structures and related material properties.
Applicants should clearly demonstrate the connection between their proposed research and crystallography in their research summary.
What Documents Are Required?
Applicants must prepare two separate PDF documents for the online application.
1. Research Summary
The proposed research description must be no more than two pages.
It should explain:
The purpose and rationale of the research
The proposed methodology
Relevant scientific background
References supporting the research
ICDD states that information beyond the two-page limit will not be read.
2. Curriculum Vitae
The CV must also be limited to two pages.
It should include relevant information such as:
Educational preparation
Degrees obtained or in progress
Relevant coursework
Awards and honours
Research publications
Research presentations
Work experience
Professional activities
Memberships
The application instructions specify 12-point font and margins of at least three-quarters of an inch.
Recommendation Letter
Applicants must provide the contact information for their primary research adviser.
After the application is submitted, ICDD sends the adviser an email requesting a one-page recommendation letter. The recommendation must be submitted by October 8, 2026.
Can Students From Outside the United States Apply?
Yes. ICDD states that applications are welcomed from all areas of the world.
The organisation particularly encourages applications from institutions with developing crystallography programmes. This makes the opportunity relevant to qualified graduate researchers outside the United States, including students studying in Africa and other regions.
How Are Scholarship Recipients Selected?
The scholarship is competitive.
ICDD's selection committee evaluates both the proposed research and the applicant's academic and research background.
The research proposal can be assessed based on factors including:
Impact
Innovation
Originality
Effectiveness of the proposed approach
Relationship to crystallography
The applicant's recommendation, academic record, previous research, honours, awards and professional activities are also considered.
Only one award can be made to an educational institution in a given year. If multiple candidates from the same institution are among the strongest applicants, only one can receive the award.
How to Apply for the Ludo Frevel Scholarship
Applications are submitted through the ICDD website.
Applicants should:
Confirm that they will remain enrolled in a graduate programme during 2027.
Confirm that their expected graduation date is not before July 1, 2027.
Prepare a research summary of no more than two pages.
Prepare a CV of no more than two pages.
Provide their primary research adviser's contact information.
Upload both documents as separate PDF files.
Make sure their adviser submits the required recommendation letter.
Complete the online application before October 8, 2026.
Applicants should carefully follow the formatting and document requirements because ICDD specifies limits for both the research summary and CV.
Important Things Applicants Should Know
The Ludo Frevel Scholarship is specifically an education and research scholarship for graduate students in crystallography-related fields. It is not a general scholarship for students studying any science programme.
The award is also not payment for work or services performed for ICDD, and ICDD does not describe it as a general grant-in-aid.
Applicants should therefore make the crystallographic relevance of their research clear rather than submitting a general research proposal that does not directly connect with the field.
Final Thoughts
The 2027 Ludo Frevel Crystallography Scholarship provides a $3,000 award to promising graduate students conducting crystallography-related research.
With the application deadline set for October 8, 2026, eligible students should begin preparing their research summary, CV and recommendation arrangements as soon as possible.
The opportunity is open internationally, and students from institutions with developing crystallography programmes are specifically encouraged to apply.
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