The 2026 Kavli Prize Committee in Nanoscience

Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

Mari-Ann Einarsrud is Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Materials Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), specialising in nanostructured and hybrid materials synthesis and characterization. She is internationally recognised for developing aqueous chemical routes to nanostructured ceramics and thin films, and for advancing time-resolved in-situ methods that reveal how materials form at the nanoscale. Einarsrud has authored hundreds of publications and co-founded technology spin-outs. She also plays a leading role in shaping nanoscience research globally, including serving as Chair of the Kavli Prize Committee in Nanoscience.

Soochow University, China

Lifeng Chi is a Chinese physicist and chemist and Chair Professor at Soochow University’s Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials. She earned her PhD in Germany and has held professorships in Europe prior to her return to China. Chi’s interdisciplinary research spans nanotechnology, surface science, and thin films, focusing on atomic-scale characterization methods like atomic force microscopy and the design of functional nanomaterials. Her work contributes to understanding how molecular and nanostructured systems behave at interfaces and under external stimuli, bridging fundamental physics with applications.

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, France

Daniel Esteve is a French physicist and Research Director at the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), where he co-founded the Quantronics group at the Service de Physique de l’État Condensé. His expertise lies in mesoscopic physics and quantum electrical circuits, especially superconducting devices, quantum transport, and the physics of single-electron and single-Cooper-pair systems. Esteve’s research has helped advance understanding of quantum effects in nanoscale circuits, with implications for quantum computing and nanoelectronics.

Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Germany

Tanja Weil is a German chemist and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research. Her research focuses on macromolecular chemistry, including the design and synthesis of well-defined polymers, dendrimers, and functional nanostructured materials. Weil’s work integrates precision chemical synthesis with applications in nanotechnology, such as advanced materials for separation, sensing, and biotechnology. She has held academic positions internationally and received multiple honours for her contributions to polymer and nanomaterials science.