Mercouri Kanatzidis, a professor at Northwestern University with a joint appointment as a supplies scientist on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, has been awarded an honorary doctorate from ETH Zurich, one of many world’s main establishments for science and know-how. This honor acknowledges Kanatzidis’ in depth contributions to solid-state chemistry and supplies science.
“Professor Mercouri Kanatzidis is one of the most influential solid-state chemists of our time,” mentioned Christophe Copéret, head of the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences at ETH Zurich, in a statement. “Through his curiosity and persistence, he has discovered new types of functional materials and transformed fundamental discoveries into important technologies.”
The honorary diploma was conferred on November 22, 2025, throughout ETH Day, an annual occasion at ETH Zurich that highlights the college’s achievements and acknowledges people who’ve made distinctive contributions to science and society.
“I am truly humbled by this honor,” mentioned Kanatzidis. “I am grateful for this recognition of the impact of our work, and I share it with the many students, postdoctoral fellows and collaborators around the world whose talent and commitment have driven it forward.”
Kanatzidis is widely known for his pioneering analysis in thermoelectric supplies and perovskite photovoltaics. His work on high-performance thermoelectrics has superior the conversion of waste warmth into electrical energy, addressing crucial vitality challenges. His contributions to perovskite supplies have led to improvements in radiation detection and new vitality applied sciences, with sensible functions in medical imaging, environmental monitoring and past.
Kanatzidis’ achievements have earned him quite a few accolades, together with election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He has authored greater than 1,600 scientific publications, which have collectively garnered practically 98,000 citations. He has additionally mentored greater than 200 doctoral college students and postdoctoral researchers.
Kanatzidis earned a bachelor’s diploma in chemistry from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Iowa. He was a postdoctoral researcher on the University of Michigan and Northwestern earlier than becoming a member of the college at Michigan State University, the place he served as a professor for practically 20 years. In 2006, he joined Argonne and Northwestern, the place he has continued to advance supplies analysis.
ETH Zurich, established in 1855, is internationally famend for its contributions to science and engineering. The college has been dwelling to quite a few Nobel laureates and distinguished scientists, together with Albert Einstein, who studied and taught there.
Argonne National Laboratory seeks options to urgent nationwide issues in science and know-how by conducting modern fundamental and utilized analysis in just about each scientific self-discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the only largest supporter of fundamental analysis within the bodily sciences within the United States and is working to deal with a few of the most urgent challenges of our time. For extra data, go to https://energy.gov/science.