News: Awards

Arvind Murugan promoted to Professor in the Department of Physics.

Laura Gagliardi has just been named for the 2026 Eni Award for Energy Frontiers.  Established in 2008, the Eni Award is one of the most prestigious international prizes in energy and environmental science — often described as the "Nobel Prize of energy research." Past laureates include Omar Yaghi (2018, Energy Transition).

https://www.eni.com/en-IT/strategic-vision/innovation/eni-award.html

Prof. Jiwoong Park is one of thirteen UChicago faculty members to receive named, distinguished service professorships in July 2026. Prof. Park will be the James Franck Professor of Chemistry. 

Dr. Michelle Brann (a former student of Prof. Steven J. Sibener) won the ACS Astrochemistry Division Thesis Prize. She received a plaque commemorating the award at the Spring ACS meeting in Atlanta in March. 
 

Zoe Yan and Jack Covey named 2026 Sloan Fellows

Prof. Thomas Witten has been awarded the 2025 Prize from European Physical Society Statistical and Nonlinear Physics Division:   
 
"for his seminal contributions to the statistical physics of aggregation, soft matter, and complex fluids, and for unveiling principles in the dynamics of polymers, interfaces, and disordered materials.”
 

Zoe Yan received a 2025 Young Investigator Award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research for her exceptional ability and promise in basic research.

Arvind Murugan was named a 2025 Schmidt Polymath to acknowledge and support his novel research.

Dmitri Talapin received the ACS Award in Colloid Chemistry in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field.

Joshua Wagner, a graduate student with the Steve Sibener Group, has been named the recipient of the distinguished Dorothy M. and Earl S. Hoffman Award from the AVS (American Vacuum Society). 

Michelle Brann has received the 2025 ACS Astrochemistry Dissertation Award in recognition for the significant contributions made during her doctoral studies with Prof. Steven J. Sibener.

JFI Travel Award enables trainees to attend and present their research at a scientific conference between 2/1/2025-1/31/2026.  The award will be for $600 towards reimbursement of travel expenses (hotel & transportation).  Applications for the forthcoming year will be considered starting 6/1.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria: (1) Be a graduate student or post-doctoral trainee in the James Franck Institute at the time of application and travel. (2) Priority will be given to those who have not previously received an award. (3) Personal Statement, Budget and Note from Advisor will be the primary means of selection. (4) Consideration will be made to distribute awards equitably across JFI groups. No more than two applications per group per.

Margaret Gardel & Peter Littlewood have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences

Vincenzo Vitelli was named a CNRS Fellow-Ambassador, which invites leading researchers to visit and mentor with French laboratories.