News

Dr. Lulu Li, Scientific Group Coordinator at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Spain, has been selected as this year's recipient of the Clara Immerwahr Award, honoring outstanding early-career female scientists in the field of catalysis. The award will be presented in December as part of a joint ceremony with the Gerhard Ertl Lecture, bringing together leading senior researchers and the most promising junior talents in catalysis on a single stage. more

On October 9, 2026, the library of the Fritz Haber Institute hosted the first symposium of the International Max Planck Research School on Elementary Processes in Physical Chemistry (IMPRS-EPPC). Around 70 students, researchers, and alumni attended the day-long event, which combined scientific talks with a panel discussion on career paths after the PhD. more

Scientists in the Theory Department at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society show that general-purpose large language models can efficiently explore chemical space and outperform specialised generative models in the search for stable, low-energy materials. more

Elif Öykü Alagöz, a PhD student in the Interface Science Department lead by Prof. Roldán Cuenya, has won the Best Poster Prize at the international SURFCAT Summer School 2026 in Skælskør, Denmark. Her poster presented advanced X-ray diffraction methodology and data analysis for studying how cations behave at electrode-electrolyte interfaces during electrocatalytic reactions. more

The Director of the Interface Science Department at the Fritz Haber Institute, Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldán Cuenya, has been selected for the renowned Jacobus van 't Hoff Award Lectureship at Delft University of Technology. She delivered her lecture on September 28 in Delft, the Netherlands. more

The Fritz Haber Institute welcomes Dr. Valentin Briega Martos, who joined the Department of Interface Science in September 2026 as W2 Group Leader to establish the CO2 Capture Group. His team will develop electrochemical strategies for capturing and re-utilizing carbon dioxide, pairing operando characterization with electrochemical performance to guide materials and process design. more

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. more