2025 Charles Haenny Prize for Physics
The 2025 Charles Haenny Prize for Physics was awarded to Dr Michelle Simoncelli ‘for the development of novel microscopic and mesoscopic theories of thermal transport that find direct application in a better understanding of heat transport and a reduction of energy consumption in various fields’.
Award Ceremony for the Swiss Physical Society (SPS) Awards, the Prix Schläfli Physics 2025 of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and the Charles Haenny Prize for Physics
From SPS report
The SPS, SCNAT and the Institute of Physics of the EPFL decided to hold a ceremony to reward excellent early-career scientists at EPFL on the 4th of September 2025. This Ceremony concerned principally two outstanding recognitions in Physics: the Prix Schläfli and the Charles Haenny Prize for Physics. SPS had already hosted the ceremony for the awards in Vienna at the SPS Annual Meeting between 18-22 August, but it was also decided to celebrate in-house the 7 awardees of the SPS, financed by generous donations of major industries in the country. Not all of them could be present in person, but some were connected and could shortly present their work.
The vice-President (former President) of the SPS, Prof. T. Montaruli thanked EPFL for the organisation of the Ceremony and the SCNAT for supporting the event and the society itself. She explained that the major target of the SPS is fostering the new generation of scientists. The SPS organises and supports activities for young talents and tournaments of college and university students with tight links to international communities. She then remembered that the SPS critically lives on the support of its members, contributing publications describing the state of the art of physics research. Membership is free for PhDs in their first 2 years, but still they are less than 5%, which is a number to be improved. Briefly, she mentioned the sections also committed in connections to industry as well as socially and politically relevant problems, such as the energy crisis and climate change.
Sveva Castello connected from Brazil, while enjoying a very well-deserved vacation after her graduation at the University of Geneva, under the supervision of Prof. Camille Bonvin. She earned the ABB award in General Physics “for realising how measurable effects of time distortion can resolve the degeneracy between alternative theories of the observed expansion of our universe.” Urban Senica, now Posdoc at Harward, completed his PhD in the group of Prof. J. Faist at ETHZ, was awarded the Computational Physics Award, financed by COMSOL. He presented his groundbreaking work in the realm of planarized THz quantum cascade lasers and optical frequency combs. Gabriele Pasquale was awarded the IBM prize for developing a novel quantum tunnelling method that enables direct spectroscopic access to correlated electronic states. He used this approach to demonstrate spin-polarised transport under circularly polarized light and achieved the first electrical detection of optical chirality in 2D materials, opening new frontiers in quantum materials research and technology. Marco Coraiola was awarded the ID-Quantique award in Quantum Science and Technology for his contributions to multiterminal Josephson junction physics. David Breitenmoser was awarded the Metas award for the development of a more precise and faster spectrum modelling for airborne gamma-ray spectrometry systems. Jodok Happacher earned the Sensirion award for his contributions to the understanding of the photo physics and control of single nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond for quantum sensing and information processing, material science and nanoelectronics applications. Hitachi Energy awarded Yunfei Teng, who presented his work in the field of osmotic energy conversion systems, which led to stalactite-shaped nanopores inspired by natural formations using a pioneering technique in nanostructure fabrication. This anisotropic deposition method of Hafnium Oxide (HfO2) nanopores facilitates energy conversion devices with exceptional properties for biosensing and energy harvesting applications, demonstrating the ability to finely tune ionic selectivity and transport. Yunfei will defend his thesis in about 20 days at EPFL, and we wish him good luck!
Dr. Marc Türler, representing SCNAT, introduced the historical Schläfli Prize, established since1866, which has recognised the work of 132 young talents in different natural sciences since then. We learnt that Alexander Friedrich Schläfli, was a Swiss physicist from Burgdorf, who tragically passed away in Baghdad in 1863 and left his entire estate to the SCNAT, making it possible to award so many talents. As can be read in this SCNAT News, the award was assigned to Dr. Martin F. Sarott who was nominated by Profs M. Fiebig and M. Trassin of ETHZ. Dr. Sarott earned his PhD in Materials Science at ETH Zurich under the supervision of Prof. M. Fiebig and Prof. M. Trassin in August 2023. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials at the University of Groningen. The prize acknowledges his pioneering work and outstanding results in the domain of active optical control of the polarisation in ferroelectric thin films. Dr. Sarott demonstrated that UV light can be used to enhance or suppress ferroelectric polarisation, employing techniques such as structural characterisation, scanning probe microscopy, and linear optical spectroscopy. His work opens new avenues in the field of oxide electronics and photonics. His results are published in M.F. Sarott et al., Advanced Materials 36, 2312437 (2024).
Prof. Hugo Dil introduced the Charles Haenny Prize for Physics and his historical personality. Prof. Charles Haenny was not only a nuclear physicist working with Blackett on cosmic rays and other eminent personalities who opened the path towards neutron spectroscopy, he was also very concerned on the impact of physics in society and its ethics. Hence, the prize distinguishes a young physicist for work of excellent scientific quality performed in Switzerland, while also respectful of humanity and its environment. In the spirit of Prof. Haenny’s will, the prize aims to distinguish research based on an ethic of international collaboration or seeking to inhibit the use of physical knowledge for malicious goals. Many excellent nominations were received, but all these aspects came best together in the work of Dr. Michele Simoncelli, currently at Columbia University. He is awarded the prize for the development of novel microscopic and mesoscopic theories of thermal transport that find direct application in a better understanding of heat transport and a reduction of energy consumption in various fields. Not only the work of the awardee, but also the trophy, which was designed and produced by the physics workshop at the EPFL, reflects the spirit of Prof. Charles Haenny. It portrays the balance between physics and the world as a whole, placed on a base of oak wood obtained from the desks in the offices of Prof. Haenny.
We had an excellent time with these young talents, who lit up the room with their energy, brilliance, and the remarkable maturity of accomplished physicists, while showing enormous potential for the future. Their parents, grandparents and friends surely felt they did an excellent job, too, supporting them in their life journey!
Figure 1. Prix Schläfli: Dr. Martin F. Sarott with his PhD Advisor Prof. Manfred Fiebig
Figure 2. Charles Haenny Prize for Physics: Dr. Michele Simoncelli with the committee chair Prof. Hugo Dil