2025 ACA Award Presentations
Each year, at its annual meeting, the ACA proudly celebrates excellence in the field by recognizing and honoring the distinguished recipients of its prestigious awards. This tradition serves as an opportunity to highlight the remarkable contributions of scientists who have made significant impacts in crystallography and related disciplines. This year, we are especially pleased to feature the Bau Neutron Diffraction Award, the Margaret C. Etter Early Career Award, the Kenneth Trueblood Award, and the Fankuchen Memorial Award, each of which acknowledges outstanding achievements in research, innovation, and dedication to advancing the field.
Margaret C. Etter Early Career Award: Dr. Dmitry Lyumkis
Saturday, July 19, 2025 @ 11:45 AM CT
The ACA is proud to recognize Dr. Dmitry Lyumkis with the 2025 Margaret C. Etter Early Career Award for his groundbreaking contributions to structural biology and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Dr. Lyumkis has advanced our understanding of infectious disease mechanisms, particularly HIV, through high-resolution structural insights into key viral protein complexes and their interactions with host cells.
A standout in both research and methodology, Dr. Lyumkis was among the first to resolve the structure of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer, a pivotal breakthrough in vaccine development. His lab has since uncovered how viral intasomes integrate into host chromatin, how antiviral drugs block this process, and how resistance to therapy evolves. His innovations in cryo-EM, especially in overcoming sample preparation and validation challenges, have become widely adopted tools within the structural biology community.
Currently an Associate Professor at The Salk Institute and holder of the Hearst Foundations Chair, Dr. Lyumkis exemplifies the spirit of the Etter Award through his innovative science, leadership in the field, and profound impact on structural biology at large. We are honored to celebrate his achievements as a rising leader in the global scientific community.
Robert Bau Neutron Diffraction Award: Dr. Craig M. Brown
Sunday, July 20, 2025 @ 11:45 AM CT
The ACA is proud to present the 2025 Robert Bau Neutron Diffraction Award to Dr. Craig M. Brown, in recognition of his pioneering work in neutron scattering and structural analysis of energy-relevant materials. A NIST Fellow and Director of the Center for High-Resolution Neutron Scattering (CHRNS), Dr. Brown has led groundbreaking research into hydrogen storage, gas separation, and catalysis—especially through his studies of microporous materials like MOFs and zeolites.
With over 250 published technical papers, Dr. Brown's work has deeply influenced both academic and applied research communities. His career is distinguished by collaboration across DOE national labs and universities, and by a commitment to education and mentorship through CHRNS, the premier neutron research center in North America.
Dr. Brown’s many honors—including the Samuel Wesley Stratton Award, the DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program R&D Award, the PECASE Award, and the Neutron Scattering Society of America Science Prize—underscore the lasting impact of his contributions to neutron diffraction and materials science. We are honored to celebrate Dr. Brown's extraordinary career and enduring influence on the field.
Fankuchen Memorial Award: Dr. Chris D. Malliakas
Monday, July 21, 2025 @ 11:45 AM CT
Chris D. Malliakas will receive the ACA Fankuchen Memorial Award in recognition of his significant contributions to crystallographic research and his dedication to teaching in the field. As the Director of Crystallography, Director of Physical Characterization, and Research Associate Professor at the Integrated Molecular Structure Education and Research Center (IMSERC) at Northwestern University, Malliakas has demonstrated expertise in solving complex structural problems, including modulated structures, amorphous compounds, supercells, twinning, and disorders. His work extends beyond single-crystal analysis, having transformed structural elucidation capabilities at Northwestern University into a dynamic learning environment where he actively trains future structural scientists. His dedication to both advancing crystallographic methodologies and educating the next generation of researchers exemplifies the essence of the Fankuchen Award, which honors those who contribute to crystallographic research while being effective educators
Kenneth N. Trueblood Award: Professors Branton J. Campbell & Harold T. Stokes
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 @ 11:45 AM CT
The ACA is honored to present the 2025 Kenneth N. Trueblood Award to Professors Branton J. Campbell and Harold T. Stokes of Brigham Young University, in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to computational crystallography and the advancement of group-theoretical methods in structural science.
Over the past two decades, Professors Campbell and Stokes have built a scientific partnership that has profoundly shaped how crystallographers explore symmetry, phase transitions, and complex structural behavior. Together, they co-developed the ISOTROPY Software Suite, including the widely used ISODISTORT and FINDSYM tools, which have made sophisticated group representation theory accessible to researchers across disciplines and around the world.
Professor Harold T. Stokes is a pioneering physicist whose early work with Dorian Hatch laid the foundation for modern symmetry-mode analysis. His deep expertise in group-theoretical methods enabled breakthrough insights into structural phase transitions, and his commitment to open-access software development has empowered generations of crystallographers. Even in retirement, Professor Stokes remains an active force behind the continued evolution of the ISOTROPY tools.
Professor Branton J. Campbell, a leading researcher in both experimental and theoretical crystallography, has contributed extensively to the study of structure-property relationships in functional materials. His work has expanded the field’s understanding of magnetic and non-magnetic phase transitions, chiral order, and domain topologies in complex systems. A Fulbright Scholar and international leader, he played a key role in the creation of the magnetic CIF standard, and has chaired both the IUCr Commission on Magnetic Structures and the US National Committee on Crystallography.
Through their shared vision, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the crystallographic community, Professors Campbell and Stokes have redefined what’s possible in structural science. Their work exemplifies the legacy of Kenneth N. Trueblood—bridging computational precision with scientific discovery.
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Bau Neutron Diffraction Award: Dr. Craig M. Brown
Sunday, July 20, 2025 @ 11:45 AM CT
Dr. Craig M. Brown has been awarded the Robert Bau Neutron Diffraction Award for his pioneering research on gas adsorption in microporous materials. A leading scientist at NIST, his work has advanced understanding of hydrogen storage, gas separation, and catalysis, particularly in MOFs and zeolites. Established in 2010 by the ACA, the triennial award honors the late Professor Robert Bau’s contributions to neutron diffraction. Beyond research, Dr. Brown is a dedicated mentor and active in the crystallographic community, making him a deserving recipient of this prestigious honor.
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Margaret C. Etter Early Career Award: Dr. Dmitry Lyumkis
Saturday, July 19, 2025 @ 11:45 AM CT
Dr. Dmitry Lyumkis received the Margaret C. Etter Early Career Award for his groundbreaking contributions to cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and structural biology, particularly in HIV research and antiviral drug development. He played a key role in solving the first high-resolution structure of the HIV-1 envelope trimer, advancing vaccine design, and elucidating the HIV intasome, crucial for antiviral therapy. Additionally, his methodological innovations in cryo-EM, including solutions for preferred specimen orientation, have been widely adopted. His impact on both structural biology and computational methods makes him a well-deserved recipient of this prestigious award.
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Kenneth N. Trueblood Award: Professors Branton J. Campbell & Harold T. Stokes
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 @ 11:45 AM CT
Branton Campbell and Harold Stokes of Brigham Young University have been awarded the 2025 Kenneth N. Trueblood Award by the ACA for their exceptional contributions to computational crystallography. Their development of the ISOTROPY software suite, including ISODISTORT and FINDSYM, has revolutionized crystallographic analysis, enabling advanced symmetry-mode studies and benefiting researchers worldwide. Their groundbreaking work in group representation theory and dedication to the structural science community make them deserving recipients of this prestigious honor.
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Fankuchen Memorial Award: Christos Malliakas
Monday, July 21, 2025 @ 11:45 AM CT
Christos Malliakas will receive the ACA Fankuchen Memorial Award in recognition of his significant contributions to crystallographic research and his dedication to teaching in the field. As the Associate Director and Research Associate Professor at the Integrated Molecular Structure Education and Research Center (IMSERC) at Northwestern University, Malliakas has demonstrated expertise in solving complex structural problems, including modulated structures, supercells, twinning, and disorders. His work extends beyond single-crystal analysis, having transformed structural elucidation capabilities at Northwestern University into a dynamic learning environment where he actively trains future structural scientists. His dedication to both advancing crystallographic methodologies and educating the next generation of researchers exemplifies the essence of the Fankuchen Award, which honors those who contribute to crystallographic research while being effective educators.
