The nomination deadline for the inaugural Michele Parrinello Award is fast approaching. If you are interested in submitting a nomination, we warmly invite you to do so before the deadline.

Here, we will overview this new award and share the nomination details and eligibility requirements.

Honoring a pioneer

The Michele Parrinello Award was established in November 2025 in celebration of Professor Michele Parrinello’s remarkable career.

A pioneer in computational sciences, Professor Parrinello is credited with an abundance of exceptional achievements and stands as an embodiment of innovation and scientific excellence.

His role in the development of the Car–Parrinello method remains one of his most influential contributions to the field of molecular dynamics. Moreover, he is also celebrated for his role in the cocreation of the Parrinello–Rahman method and his recent work in metadynamics.

Now, with an award named in his honor, MDPI hopes that Professor Parrinello’s career will serve as a source of inspiration for both emerging and accomplished scholars, encouraging them to strive for excellence and innovation in their fields.

Learn more about Professor Michele Parrinello’s enduring impact.

The inaugural Michele Parrinello Award

The Michele Parrinello Award will celebrate the significant contributions of senior academics in the field of computational physical science.

The recipient of the first Michele Parrinello Award will be announced on the 31 July 2026. Following this, they will receive a monetary prize of 50,000 EUR, a commemorative medal, and a certificate.

This award maintains a focus on contributions to foundational science and interdisciplinary impact, both of which have been synonymous with Professor Parrinello’s career. Accordingly, the award welcomes nominees from a range of related fields such as physics, chemistry, and materials science.

Nomination details

With the deadline approaching on 31 March 2026, it is important to submit your nominations before it is too late. Below, we outline the essential criteria for making a successful submission.

Who can be nominated?

Senior scientists with outstanding achievements and contributions in the fields of computational physical sciences can be nominated. This encompasses fields such as physics, chemistry, and materials science, with particular emphasis on pioneering contributions to foundational science.

Who can be the nominator?

Nominations for the Michele Parrinello Award must be made by the director of the nominee’s research institution or by recognized scientists within the field. Importantly, self-nominations will not be considered.

How to submit a nomination

In order to submit a nomination, nominees must fill out the nomination form.

Within this form, multiple documents must be provided. These include:

• A biographical sketch;
• A detailed description of the nominee’s contributions;
• 5–10 of the nominee’s representative academic publications;
• A list of the nominee’s academic honors;
• A nomination letter signed by two nominators.

Submit your nominations now

To submit your nomination, access the form here.

Alternatively, visit the Michele Parrinello homepage where you can learn more about the award.