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B54 Prizes / Research awards

Good research deserves recognition.

The B54 Prizes recognise original undergraduate and postgraduate research across six STEM fields, with independent expert review.

Find your prize
A young researcher in a lab coat hugging her thesis and smiling

Six fields. New possibilities.

Where does your work belong?

Show award for

6 fields · Undergraduate and postgraduate research

  • $1,500 undergraduate award

    Mathematics

    • Algebra
    • Topology
    • Number theory
    • Probability

    Closes 1 Dec 2026

    A mathematics researcher mid-explanation with a stick of chalk
  • $1,500 undergraduate award

    Physics

    • Quantum mechanics
    • Condensed matter
    • Astrophysics
    • Fluid dynamics

    Closes 1 Dec 2026

    A physics student watching the rainbow from a glass prism
  • $1,500 undergraduate award

    Chemistry

    • Organic
    • Inorganic
    • Analytical
    • Physical

    Closes 1 Dec 2026

    A chemistry student in goggles holding up a flask of green liquid
  • $1,500 undergraduate award

    Biology

    • Molecular biology
    • Genetics
    • Ecology
    • Biotechnology

    Closes 1 Dec 2026

    A biology researcher examining a petri dish
  • $1,500 undergraduate award

    Computer Science

    • Algorithms
    • Machine learning
    • Systems design
    • Software engineering

    Closes 1 Dec 2026

    A computer science student with a laptop and a circuit board
  • $1,500 undergraduate award

    Engineering

    • Electrical
    • Mechanical
    • Civil
    • Biomedical

    Closes 1 Dec 2026

    An engineering student in a hard hat holding a drone prototype

How judging works

Independent panels. Published criteria.

Judging and scoring in the Prize Guide
  1. Reviewers are briefed on the rubric, confidentiality, and conflicts before they see anything.
  2. Each eligible entry gets at least three independent reviews where practical.
  3. Reviewers score alone first and write a reason for each material score.
  4. A big score gap or a missing review triggers another independent review.
  5. Ties are broken by the published method.
  6. b54 may make fewer awards, or none, if no entry meets the standard.

From submission to recognition

The 2026 prize cycle.

Understand the process

  1. 1 December 2026

    Submissions close

    Send your original thesis or research before the deadline.

  2. December – January

    Expert review

    Independent panels assess entries against each field’s published criteria.

  3. By February 2027

    Shortlist notified

    Shortlisted candidates are contacted for verification.

  4. March 2027

    Winners announced

    Winners are announced at a ceremony after verification.

How to enter

Give your research its best chance.

Send your original thesis or research paper as an English-language PDF, up to 50 pages including references and appendices. Include an abstract, methodology, and results. Work must have been completed within the last two academic years.

Co-authored work is welcome when you are the primary contributor. Check the permissions, evidence, and criteria for your chosen field.

Prepare your submission

Ready to submit

Apply on build54.com

Opens the live prize page in a new tab. Choose “Submit research” there to complete the official application.