The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation was established in 1860 in Germany and is funded today through a combination of private donations and funding from several German government agencies. The primary purpose of the Foundation is to promote scientific cooperation and exchange between scientists from Germany and across the world. This purpose is accomplished through research fellowships and awards for scientists from across the world to collaborate with German scientists on research of mutual benefit. The Weidereingladung Award is specifically for scientists from outside Germany to travel to German universities and foundation labs for collaborative research of mutual benefit.
Dr. Nesbitt was selected for the Humboldt Foundation Weidereingladung Award based on research conducted as part of his official NIST duties in problems in chemical physics, including detailed studies of catalysis, interactions of molecules with liquid surfaces, nanoparticles, and single large biomolecules.