Fellows of the ACA

An ACA Fellow is a Member whose contributions to the advancement of crystallography—or its applications—are scientifically or socially distinguished. Fellowship is one of the Association’s highest honors, recognizing individuals whose work has had a lasting impact on the field and the broader scientific community.

If you know a colleague whose achievements and service merit this recognition, we encourage you to submit a nomination. Nominations are due annually by April 1. The next class of ACA Fellows will be announced in Summer 2026.

Explore ACA Fellows

Purpose of the Fellows Program

The ACA Fellows Program was established by the ACA Council to recognize exceptional achievement across a broad range of contributions, including scientific research, education, professional service, leadership, and engagement within the ACA and the wider structural science community.

By honoring Fellows, the ACA celebrates excellence among its members while also promoting their accomplishments to audiences beyond the Association, including employers, other scientific societies, funding agencies, and government organizations. ACA Fellows serve as ambassadors for crystallography, advancing science education, research, collaboration, and public understanding.

This program allows the ACA to recognize a wider cross-section of outstanding members than is possible through discipline-specific awards alone. Over time, approximately 5% of the membership will be elected as Fellows. New Fellows are announced annually and recognized at the ACA Awards Banquet.

Nomination and Selection Process

• Eligibility:

• Nominees must be current ACA members with dues paid for the nomination year.

• Nominators must also be current ACA members.

• Nomination Package: 

• A cover letter from the nominator outlining how the nominee meets the Fellows criteria

• A brief curriculum vitae

• Two supporting letters from other current ACA members

• Submission Deadline:

• All nomination materials must be submitted by April 1 each year.

• Review Process:

• Nominations are collected by ACA Headquarters and distributed to the current Fellows for review, along with a standardized scoring sheet.

• Fellows vote yes, no, or abstain on each nominee.

• Voting Requirements - A nominee is elected as an ACA Fellow if:

• More than 50% of the votes cast are “yes,” and

• The number of “yes” votes is at least 25% of the total number of current Fellows

• Abstentions are not counted as votes

• Rollover Policy: Nominations not selected in a given year will automatically be reconsidered for up to two additional years, provided the nominee remains a current ACA member. No additional materials are required during this rollover period.

Nomination Packet Requirements

All nominations are submitted online and must be completed in full by the stated deadline. To streamline the process, all required materials should be uploaded together by the nominator in a single submission.

Please note that only complete nominations received by the deadline can be reviewed. Nominees who are not selected in a given cycle will automatically be reconsidered by the appropriate review committee in the following award cycle.

A complete nomination package includes:

1. A one-page narrative highlighting the significance and impact of the nominee’s career

2. The nominee’s curriculum vitae

3. A list of the nominee’s publications

4. Any additional materials that help illustrate the nominee’s contributions

5. At least three letters of support from individuals with first-hand knowledge of the nominee’s work and achievements

When you’re ready to submit, gather your contact information and the nominee’s contact details, and combine all required materials into one PDF. Click the button below to access and complete the nomination form.

Submit a Nomination

To submit a nomination, you’ll need to be an ACA member in good standing. If your membership is not current, simply renew your dues—or consider teaming up with another ACA member to help put together a nomination for someone you’d like to see recognized.

Review & Notification Process 

After the nomination deadline of April 1 each year, all completed nomination packages are reviewed and forwarded to the current ACA Fellows.  

Following careful review and consideration, the Committee Chair will notify the ACA President of the selected recipient, typically within four weeks of the close of nominations. To ensure a fair and confidential process, committee members do not disclose the recipient’s name until the individual has been formally notified by the ACA President.

Award recipients are formally announced at the ACA Annual Meeting and recognized in the corresponding issue of RefleXions. Strong nominations that are not selected in a given year remain active and are automatically reconsidered in the next award cycle, provided the nominee continues to meet eligibility requirements.