The Dreyfus Prize in the Chemical Sciences 2027 – $250,000 Award
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation is inviting nominations for the 2027 Dreyfus Prize in the Chemical Sciences, a prestigious international award recognizing exceptional and original research that has made a major contribution to the chemical sciences.
The prize is awarded every two years to an individual whose research has significantly advanced a selected area of chemistry. The 2027 prize will focus on Chemical Probes of Biological Systems, highlighting important advances at the intersection of chemistry and biology.
The winner will receive a $250,000 monetary award, together with a medal and certificate.
Dreyfus Prize 2027
The 2027 Dreyfus Prize will recognize outstanding research in the area of Chemical Probes of Biological Systems.
Chemical probes have become important tools for understanding biological function, particularly within cells and living organisms. Research in this area has helped scientists investigate biological molecules, cellular pathways and mechanisms involved in disease.
The 2027 topic specifically recognizes advances in chemical biology that use chemical probes to understand biological systems. These advances may involve the study of proteins, glycans, nucleic acids and other biological processes.
The prize is intended to recognize original contributions in chemistry. Where research is substantially interdisciplinary, the nomination should clearly demonstrate the original chemical contribution made by the nominee.
Prize Benefits
The selected recipient will receive:
- $250,000 monetary award
- A prestigious Dreyfus Prize medal
- An official certificate
- An award ceremony held at the winner’s institution
- An opportunity to present an award lecture
The ceremony is expected to take place in late September 2027, although the exact timing will depend on the institutional calendar.
Eligibility
The Dreyfus Prize is open to international nominations, making it an opportunity for outstanding researchers working in the chemical sciences worldwide.
There is no limit on the number of nominees who may come from the same institution, and institutional approval is not required.
However, certain individuals are not eligible. These include current Dreyfus Foundation Directors, Advisors and consultants, previous Dreyfus Prize winners, and Nobel Laureates.
Self-nominations are not accepted.
Nomination Requirements
Any person may nominate a qualified candidate for the prize. The nomination must include several supporting documents.
Applicants should prepare:
- An online nomination form.
- A nomination letter of no more than three pages.
- A CV of no more than five pages, including the candidate’s highest degree and academic advisor.
- A list of up to 10 relevant papers and/or patents.
- A provisional citation of no more than 30 words.
The nomination materials must be submitted together as one PDF by the deadline.
In addition, each nomination may include up to three letters of support. Support letters must be submitted directly to the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation by the individuals providing them and should not be included in the nomination package.
Important Deadline
The deadline for nominations for the 2027 Dreyfus Prize in the Chemical Sciences is December 3, 2026.
The winner is expected to be announced in May 2027.
Researchers and nominators should ensure that all required materials are prepared well before the deadline and that supporting letters are submitted separately and directly to the Foundation.
Previous Dreyfus Prize Recipients
The Dreyfus Prize has previously recognized leading researchers across a range of chemical science disciplines.
Recent recipients include Héctor D. Abruña of Cornell University for electrochemical processes in 2025, Xiaowei Zhuang of Harvard University for imaging in the chemical sciences in 2023, and James Anderson of Harvard University for environmental chemistry in 2021.
Other distinguished recipients include Robert Langer, Michele Parrinello, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, R. Graham Cooks, Tobin Marks and George Whitesides.
How to Apply
The Dreyfus Prize is a nomination-based award, meaning researchers cannot nominate themselves. Potential nominators should complete the official online nomination form and prepare the required nomination documents.
Completed nomination materials should be submitted as a single PDF to submissions@dreyfus.org by December 3, 2026.
For researchers working in chemical biology and related fields, the 2027 Dreyfus Prize represents an opportunity to gain international recognition for research that has significantly advanced understanding of biological systems through chemistry.
