Clara Immerwahr Award
Congratulations to Dr. Lulu Li for the Clara Immerwahr Award 2026!
We are delighted to congratulate this year's awardee, Dr. Lulu Li from the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) in Spain. She has been honored with the Clara Immerwahr Award 2026 in recognition of her outstanding contributions to catalysis research.
Dr. Li received her B.S. in Applied Chemistry from Dalian University of Technology in China. She later earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Tianjin University under the supervision of Prof. Jinlong Gong and Prof. Zhi-Jian Zhao, combining first-principles calculations with electrochemical experiments to study catalyst restructuring under applied potential.
Following her doctoral studies, she joined the research group of Prof. Núria López at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) in Spain. In 2024, she was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (ADAMox), and since August 2026, she has been serving as Scientific Group Coordinator at ICIQ, mentoring junior researchers.
Dr. Li’s research focuses on simulating catalysts under working conditions by developing machine-learning workflows integrated with first-principles calculations and molecular dynamics. In close synergy with experimental teams, her work captures critical dynamic phenomena such as catalyst restructuring and electronic behavior to guide the design of novel catalytic materials.
Celebrating Excellence in Catalysis Research: A New Chapter Begins
The Clara Immerwahr Award, launched in 2012 by the Excellence Cluster UniSysCat, is a prestigious international recognition for outstanding early-career female scientists in the field of catalysis. With this award, we honor the legacy of Clara Immerwahr, the first woman in Germany to earn a doctorate in physical chemistry. Her courage, intellect, and pioneering spirit as a woman in science form the foundation of this accolade. In an era where modern catalysis research is driving the global transition toward sustainability and green chemistry, Clara Immerwahr’s legacy is more relevant than ever.
Over the past 14 years, the Clara Immerwahr Award has established an extraordinary track record. It has served as a reliable seismograph for stellar scientific careers: more than 80% of our former awardees now hold professorships or leading positions at top-tier institutions worldwide, including Oxford, the Technion, and Imperial College.
Moving Forward: The Clara Immerwahr Award as a "Named Lectureship"
Following the conclusion of the DFG funding period for UniSysCat, we are proud and delighted to announce that this success story continues. Entering a vibrant new era, the award will be continued under the organizational leadership of the Fritz-Haber-Institut (FHI) of the Max Planck Society and with the generous support of the Faculty II - Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the Technische Universität Berlin as a one-time contribution in 2026.
Starting in 2026, the award undergoes a prestigious structural evolution and will be presented as a distinguished "Named Lectureship".
While the core mission remains unchanged—empowering and highlighting the next generation of female excellence in catalysis—the award will now feature an even grander international stage:
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The "Ertl Lecture" Stage: The festive award ceremony will be celebrated in joint conjunction with the renowned Gerhard Ertl Lecture annually on December 10th at the historic Harnack House in Berlin. This joint format creates a unique, high-profile platform bringing together world-leading senior scientists and the most promising junior talents on a single stage.
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A Fully Funded Invitation: The laureate will receive a fully funded invitation to Berlin. All travel and accommodation expenses for her stay on the occasion of the award ceremony will be covered.
The Selection comittee
Prof. Dr. Holger Dau
FU Berlin
Department of Physics
Arnimallee 14
14195 Berlin
holger.dau(at)fu-berlin.de
Prof. Dr. Peter Hegemann
HU Berlin
Department of Biology
Invalidenstraße 42
10115 Berlin
hegemann(at)rz.hu-berlin.de
Prof. Dr. Beatriz Roldan Cuenya
Fritz Haber Institute
Department of Interface Science
Faradayweg 4–6
14195 Berlin
roldan(at)fhi-berlin.mpg.de
Prof. Dr. Maria Andrea Mroginski
TU Berlin
Institute of Chemistry, Office PC 14
Straße des 17. Juni 124
10623 Berlin
andrea.mroginski(at)tu-berlin.de
Prof. Dr. Petra Wendler
U Potsdam
Institute of Biochemistry and Biology
Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24–25
14476 Potsdam-Golm
pewendler(at)uni-potsdam.de
