Vanessa Jane Bukas Honored with the Ernst Haage Prize 2026
Dr. Vanessa Jane Bukas has received the Ernst Haage Prize 2026 for her pioneering research into the theory behind important heterogeneous thermal processes. The award recognizes her achievements as an early-career scientist and highlights her contributions to understanding fundamental chemical processes.
Dr. Vanessa Jane Bukas, young group leader in the Theory Department of our Institute, has received the Ernst Haage Prize 2026 for her pioneering research into heterogeneous thermal processes.
Her work focuses on understanding the theoretical mechanisms behind important chemical processes such as the Haber-Bosch process, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and similar processes. Together with her research team, Dr. Bukas investigates how these complex processes work at a fundamental level.
Dr. Bukas studied applied mathematics and physics in Athens before completing her master’s degree at LMU Munich. She earned her Ph.D. summa cum laude from the Technical University of Munich under Professor Karsten Reuter. She then continued her research through postdoctoral positions at Stanford University and the Catalysis Theory Center in Denmark. Since 2025, she has been working toward her habilitation at Humboldt University in Berlin.
The Ernst Haage Prize is awarded annually to outstanding early-career scientists and is supported by the two Max Planck Institutes in Mülheim: the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion and the Max Planck Institut für Kohlenforschung.
