Research Prize for Zuerch: Revolutionary Developments in Chemistry!

Research Prize for Zuerch: Revolutionary Developments in Chemistry!

Today, May 6, 2025, Professor Michael Zuerch from the University of California, Berkeley, will be awarded the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Prize from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. This honor is given for outstanding achievements in the fields of chemistry, physics and materials science, particularly Zuerch's advances in ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy. Zuerch has developed novel spectroscopic methods that make it possible to observe and control quantum phenomena.

The prize includes not only financial support, but also the implementation of a research project in close cooperation with German scientists. For this project, Zuerch plans to work with Professor Dr. Rupert Huber at the Institute for Experimental and Applied Physics and at the Regensburg Center for Ultrafast Nanoscopy (RUN). This renowned research center is known for observing and controlling ultrafast electron movement in quantum materials.

Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Prize

The Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Prize, endowed with 60,000 euros, is awarded annually to internationally recognized scientists who are expected to provide significant impetus in their field. The prize is financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and represents important support for the research activities of the prize winners. The RUN, in which the cooperation will take place, is the first research building at the University of Regensburg to be funded in accordance with Article 91b GG, with a total budget of 60 million euros.

The main goal of RUN is to make atomic movements in molecules and nanomaterials visible and thus advance technological developments. The excellent research conditions in this state-of-the-art center enable the development and use of high-resolution slow-motion cameras, which will be of great importance for Zuerch's research projects.

Selection process and criteria

The selection committee, which decides on the award of the Bessel Prize, consists of scientists from many disciplines as well as a smaller number of non-disciplinary members, including representatives of the funding institutions. An award is made if two thirds of the committee members vote positively for an application and the financial resources are sufficient. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation office has no voting rights in this committee, which underlines the independence of the selection process.

Once an application is approved, applicants must submit a list of their key publications as well as a complete list of publications from the last ten years. Particular attention is paid to key publications that should stand out due to their scientific significance, for example due to a scientific breakthrough. A chronologically ordered list of all scientific publications for the last ten years is necessary, which includes detailed information such as titles, authors and journals.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation thus ensures that the prize is awarded to the most recognized scientists in their respective fields, with the qualifications, gender distribution and international representation of the specialist representatives playing a decisive role.

The close collaboration between Zuerch and German researchers not only promotes the exchange of knowledge, but also strives for scientific excellence at the highest level, which ultimately benefits the research community and society.

For further developments within the framework of the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Prize and the upcoming research projects, the scientific community remains excited about the progress of Professor Zuerch and his partners.

uni-regensburg.de reports, humboldt-foundation.de explains, humboldt-foundation.de informs.