A New Chapter for Female Excellence: The Clara Immerwahr Award Relaunches as a Prestigious "Named Lectureship"!
We are absolutely delighted to announce the continuation of one of our proudest traditions: The Clara Immerwahr Award will carry on in 2026, featuring a high-profile structural evolution!
Since its launch in 2012 by the Cluster of Excellence UniCat and continued by its successor UniSysCat, the award has established itself as a prestigious international recognition for outstanding early-career female scientists in the field of catalysis. The track record speaks for itself: more than 80% of our past laureates now hold professorships or leading positions at top-tier institutions worldwide, such as the University of Oxford, the Imperial College of London, or the Technion in Haifa. The award has truly proven to be a reliable seismograph for stellar scientific careers.
Moving Forward: A "Named Lectureship" on a Grand Stage
Following the conclusion of the DFG funding period for UniSysCat, the award is entering a vibrant new era under strong partnerships. Starting in 2026, the accolade undergoes a prestigious structural evolution and will be presented as a distinguished, non-endowed "Named Lectureship".
Thanks to a shared commitment to empowering women in catalysis and the chemical sciences, we have designed an even grander international stage for the prize:
- 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 of the Max Planck Society. This joint format creates an unparalleled, high-profile platform bringing together world-leading senior scientists and the most promising junior talents.
- One-Time Financial Support: The Faculty II - Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the Technische Universität Berlin is supporting this transition year 2026 with a generous, one-time contribution to fully cover all travel and accommodation expenses of the laureate for her stay in Berlin.
- Operative Excellence: The event and press team of the Fritz-Haber-Institut (FHI) is taking over the organizational management to ensure a seamless and high-level experience for the event.
Apply Now or Spread the Word: Shape the Future of Catalysis!
Are you a pioneering early-career female researcher in catalysis or sustainable chemistry? Or do you know an outstanding colleague whose groundbreaking work deserves an international spotlight?
We warmly invite you: Seize this unique career opportunity and apply by September 15, 2026! If you are not in the matching career stage yourself, please help us highlight exceptional women by sharing this call within your scientific networks.
All details on the guidelines and the application process can be found here: https://www.unisyscat.de/clara-immerwahr-award
Together, we carry forward the legacy of Clara Immerwahr—for a strong, diverse, and innovative scientific community!