2025-Giulia Galli

CECAM is thrilled to announce that the 2025 Berni J. Alder CECAM prize has been awarded to Prof. Giulia Galli, University of Chicago. 

The Committee has unanimously assigned the prize with the following motivation:

Berni Alder-CECAM Prize Declaration

Giulia Galli, Liew Family Professor of Molecular Engineering and Chemistry at the University of Chicago and Director of the Midwest Center for Computational Materials at Argonne National Laboratory, is awarded the 2025 Berni Alder-CECAM Prize for her transformative contributions to computational molecular science. Over the past three decades, Prof. Galli has been a leader in the development of novel methods for large-scale electronic structure and molecular dynamics simulations. Her group made critical contributions to linear-scaling algorithms for Density Functional Theory and Green’s Function coupled with Screened Coulomb Interaction (GW), enabling predictive modeling of complex systems such as water, defects in solids, and quantum information materials. Giulia Galli has also advanced the integration of simulations with experiments, playing a critical role in establishing modeling as a key interpretative tool in materials science. She led the development of impactful codes, including a large-scale GW implementation with major implications for understanding surfaces and defects. Her research has profoundly shaped both theoretical and applied aspects of condensed matter and chemical physics. With over 450 publications and around 50,000 citations, her influence spans disciplines and generations. She has been an outstanding advocate for computational science and served the international community in a variety of important roles. Her leadership has been widely recognized, and her work and commitment to the development of the field have inspired colleagues, collaborators, and students across the globe.

10 outstanding candidatures were submitted, and CECAM is very grateful to the members of the Selection Committee for their thorough assessment. We are also grateful to those of you who proposed outstanding candidates.

Heartfelt congratulations again to Giulia for this well-deserved prize!

More information on the award ceremony will be published here in due time, but please save-the-date of November 12th in your agendas!

Link to all Berni J. Alder Prize recipients: https://www.cecam.org/awards