Bruker's Excellence in X-Ray Diffraction scholarship program awards $4,000 to the full-time graduate or undergraduate student at any recognized university who submits the most unique application report in X-ray diffraction performed on a Bruker diffractometer. For the 2011-2012 competition, technical paper submissions were judged by a panel of three recognized experts in academia and industry.

The highest rated paper in the powder or materials X-ray diffraction category was X-ray Diffraction Mapping on Complex Geometry Surfaces Using Genetic Algorithm Optimization, submitted by Masoud Allahkarami, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Helmerich Research Center (HRC), Tulsa, OK, USA. Masoud's research was performed on a Bruker D8 DISCOVER XRD² micro-diffractometer. Congratulations to Masoud and thanks to all participants for their submissions.