The prize is awarded annually by the Neutron Scattering Group of the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society of Chemistry for outstanding contributions to neutron scattering science.

It recognises her studies into a wide range of materials - including water - and their interactions at the atomic and molecular level.

The majority of Dr Zeidler's work uses the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble and the ISIS neutron source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxford, both of which are world leading research centres supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Dr Zeidler said: "I am very honoured to win this prize and, building on this success, my focus will be on further advancing neutron scattering research to unravel the complexity of liquid and amorphous materials.”

Dr Ali Zarbakhsh, Chair of the Neutron Scattering Group, said: "Anita is a worthy winner of this award. The judging panel were impressed with her depth of research.”

"Anita and her colleagues at the University of Bath and the Central Facilities have advanced the study of oxygen isotope substitution in structural studies of liquids. This is work that has the potential to radically change our understanding of the structure of normal versus heavy water".

You can find out more about the B.T.M. Willis Prize and Dr Zeidler’s research on the ISIS website.

Dr Anita Zeidler was also awarded the Institute of Physics Liquids & Complex Fluids Early Career Award earlier this year.