Faculty Awards

The Academy is both an honorary society that recognizes and celebrates the excellence of its members and an independent research center convening leaders from across disciplines, professions, and perspectives to address significant challenges.

Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences honors excellence and convenes leaders from every field of human endeavor to examine new ideas, address issues of importance to the nation and the world, and work together “to cultivate every art and science which may tend to advance the interest, honor, dignity, and happiness of a free, independent, and virtuous people.”

2023 - Risa Wechsler

2022 - Shamit Kachru

2021 - Robert L. Byer

2020 - Eva Silverstein

2018 - Renata Elizaveta Kallosh

2017 - Zhixun Shen

2013 - Peter F. Michelson

2012 - Philip Howard Bucksbaum, Steven Michael Kahn

2011 - Andrei Linde , Shoucheng Zhang

2009 - Aharon Kapitulnik

2007 - Persis Sydney Drell

2006 - Savas Dimopoulos, Stephen H. Shenker

2001 - Steven Allan Kivelson

2000 - Michael E. Peskin

1999 - Daniel S. Fisher

1998 - Helen R. Quinn, Carl E. Wieman

1997 - Martin L. Perl

1995 - Charles Young Prescott

1994 - Leonard Susskind

1993 - Roger David Blandford

1992 - Steven Chu, Richard E. Taylor

1991 - Malcolm Roy Beasley

1990 - Robert B. Laughlin

1989 - Burton Richter

1982 - Douglas Dean Osheroff

1978 - Theodore Henry Geballe

1974 - James Daniel Bjorken

1970 - Robert Hofstadter, Arthur Leonard Schawlow

1967- William Martin Fairbank

1962 - Wolfgang Kurt Hermann Panofsky

AAAS Fellows are a distinguished cadre of scientists, engineers and innovators who have been recognized for their achievements across disciplines, from research, teaching, and technology, to administration in academia, industry and government, to excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public.

In a tradition stretching back to 1874, these individuals are elected annually by the AAAS Council. Newly elected Fellows are recognized for their extraordinary achievements at the ceremonial Fellows Forum, a time-honored event at the AAAS Annual Meeting where they are presented with a certificate and blue and gold rosette.

2022 - David Goldhaber-Gordon & Yuri Suzuki

2021 - Philip Bucksbaum, Persis Drell, Tony Heinz, & Aharon Kapitulnik

2020 - Risa Wechsler

2015 - Steven Kahn 

2012 - Patricia Burchat 

2009 - David Coward & Michael Peskin

2006 - Steven Block

2005 - C. Everitt

2002 - James Bjorken

2001 - Robert Siemann & Lucy Tompkins

2000 - Sidney Drell  & Steven Chu

1999 - Douglas Osherhoff

1997 - Michael May

1995 - Sebastian Doniach  & Herman Winick

1994 - Stephen Harris

1992 - Robert Byer, Malcolm Bearsley, & Richard Taylor

1989 - Arthur Bienenstock  & Ronald Bracewell

1988 - Martin Perl

1982 - Walter Meyerhof

1981 - Alexander Fetter

1980 - Burton Richter, Peter Sturrock, & John Wilcox

1977 - Calvin Quate

1975 - Richard Bube

1971 - F. Crawford

1966 - Steven Robinson, Arthur Schawlow, & William Tiller

1963 - Rudolph Marcus

1959 - Frederick Terman

1958 - Marsden Blois

1957 - Robert Hofstadter

1951 - Henry Kaplan

1901 - Fernando Sanford

The Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Physics Prize recognizes and encourages outstanding theoretical or experimental contributions to condensed matter physics.

2025 - Steven A. Kivelson

2015 - Aharon Kapitulnik

2012 - Shoucheng Zhang

2011 - Zhi-Xun Shen

1986 - Robert B. Laughlin

1981 -  Douglas D. Osheroff

1970 - T. H. Geballe

Davisson-Germer Prize in Atomic or Surface Physics recognizes outstanding work in atomic physics or surface physics.

2011 - Joachim Stohr

1994 - Carl Wieman

Max Delbruck Prize in Biological Physics recognizes and encourage outstanding achievement in biological physics research.

2016 -  Stephen R. Quake

2008 - Steven M. Block

This prize recognizes outstanding publications in the field of mathematical physics.

2006 - Daniel Freedman

To recognize and encourage outstanding achievements in experimental particle physics.

2015 - Stanley G. Wojcicki

2013 - Blas Cabrera

1989 -   Richard E. Taylor

The Norman F. Ramsey Prize in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, and in Precision Tests of Fundamental Laws and Symmetries recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the two fields of Norman Ramsey: atomic, molecular, and optical physics; and precision tests of fundamental laws and symmetries. 

2020 - Philip H. Bucksbaum

To recognize and encourage outstanding achievement in particle theory. 

2006 - Savas Dimopoulos

1998 - Leonard Susskind

This prize recognizes outstanding contributions to basic research using lasers to advance our knowledge of the fundamental physical properties of materials and their interaction with light. Some examples of relevant areas of research are: nonlinear optics, ultrafast phenomena, laser spectroscopy, squeezed states, quantum optics, multiphoton physics, laser cooling and trapping, physics of lasers, particle acceleration by lasers, and short wavelength lasers. 

2000 - Richard Neil Zare

1999 - Carl E. Wieman

1994 - Steven Chu

To recognize and enhance outstanding experimental advancements in the fields of atomic and molecular spectroscopy or chemical physics.

1987 -  Steven Chu

To recognize physicists who have been instrumental in the development of measurement techniques or equipment that have impact on the physics community by providing better measurements. 

2000 -  Calvin Forrest Quate

To recognize an early-career individual for an outstanding scientific contribution to physics that is deemed to have significant potential for a dramatic impact on the field.

2021- Vedika Khemani

2002 - David Goldhaber-Gordon

To recognize outstanding early-career research in atomic, molecular, and optical physics.

2021 - Monika Schleier-Smith

2003 - Mark A. Kasevich

This award recognizes recent outstanding contributions in quantum information science, especially using quantum effects to perform computational and information-management tasks that would be impossible or infeasible by purely classical means.

2025 - Jeongwan Haah

2025 Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy - Susan Clark

2020 Shaw Prize in Astronomy - Roger Blandford

2016 Crafoord Prize in Astronomy - Roger Blandford

2013 Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society - Roger Blandford

1998  Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics - Roger Blandford

1982  Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy - Roger Blandford

Through its Awards Program, The Franklin Institute seeks to provide public recognition and encouragement of excellence in science and technology.

The Franklin Institute’s newest award is the Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award, established in 2021. It is the first award in The Franklin Institute’s history specifically intended to honor an early-career researcher in science and engineering for an exceptional discovery, development, invention, or innovation.

2023 - Monika Schleier-Smith

Insights from fundamental physics have overturned our assumptions about the world around us. Last century, general relativity reshaped our picture of space and time, and quantum mechanics replaced the march of cause and effect with a dance of probabilities. Recently scientists have discovered that dark matter and dark energy account for most of the contents of the Universe.

This century is likely to produce more surprises. From the Planck length to the cosmic scale, physicists are opening windows into the deep structure of reality.

The Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics was founded in 2012 by Yuri Milner to recognize those individuals who have made profound contributions to human knowledge. It is open to all physicists – theoretical, mathematical, experimental – working on the deepest mysteries of the Universe.

2025 - Jeongwan Haah (New Horizons in Physics Prize)

2022 - Vedika Khemani (New Horizons in Physics Prize)

2019 - Daniel Z. Freedman

2019 - Aron Wall (New Horizons in Physics Prize)

2018 - Douglas Stanford (New Horizons in Physics Prize)

2017 - Peter W. Graham (New Horizons in Physics Prize)

2016 - Xiao-Liang Qi, Leonardo Senatore (New Horizons in Physics Prize)

2015 - Sean Hartnoll (New Horizons in Physics Prize)

2012 - Andrei Linde

ICTP's Dirac Medal, first awarded in 1985, is given in honour of P.A.M. Dirac, one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century and a staunch friend of the Centre. It is awarded annually on Dirac's birthday, 8 August, to scientists who have made significant contributions to theoretical physics.

2023 - Stephen Shenker, Leonard Susskind

The Faculty Women’s Forum recognizes faculty and staff for outstanding work supporting women at Stanford through role modeling, allyship, leadership, and sponsorship.

2023 Outstanding Leader Award - Risa Wechsler, director, Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) and professor of physics and of particle physics and astrophysics, School of Humanities & Sciences

2023 Deborah Rhode Lifetime Achievement Award - Persis Drell, provost, James and Anna Marie Spilker Professor and Professor in the School of Engineering, professor of materials science and engineering and of physics, and Kathryn “Kam” Moler, vice provost and dean of research, Marvin Chodorow Professor and Professor of Applied Physics, of physics and of energy science engineering, School of Humanities & Sciences

When the GGI was established as a National Centre for Advanced Studies, INFN created the "Galileo Galilei Medal" award in honour of the founding father of the scientific method and of modern physics. Starting from 2019, the Galileo Galilei Medal is assigned every two years by a special committee appointed by the INFN president with the contribution of the GGI director, the chair of the INFN committee for theoretical physics and the INFN executive board.

The medal is assigned to one or more scientists (three at most) who, in the 25 years before the date of the award, have achieved outstanding results on the areas of theoretical physics of interest to INFN. The Prize is announced on February 15th, on the birthday of Galileo Galilei.

2025 - Leonard Susskind

Every year, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants up to 100 Humboldt Research Awards to internationally leading researchers of all disciplines from abroad in recognition of their academic record to date. 

2014 - Prof. Dr. Steven A. Kivelson

2011 - Prof. Dr. Roger David Blandford, Prof. Dr. Aharon Kapitulnik

2005 - Prof. Dr. Renata Kallosh

2004 - Prof. Dr. Andrei Linde

1996 - Prof. Dr. Tony Heinz 

1985 - Prof. Dr. Herman Winick 

1982 - Prof. Dr. Elliott D. Bloom

1981 - Prof. Dr. Walter A. Harrison 

The Infosys Science Foundation, a not-for-profit trust, was set up in 2009 by Infosys and members of its Board, with the objective of encouraging, recognizing, and fostering world class scientific research connected to India.

2024 - Vedika Khemani

2024 - Andrei Linde

2023 - Roger Blandford

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, non-profit society of distinguished scholars. Established by an Act of Congress, signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the NAS is charged with providing independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology. Scientists are elected by their peers to membership in the NAS for outstanding contributions to research. The NAS is committed to furthering science in America, and its members are active contributors to the international scientific community.

2025 - Risa Wechsler

2022 - Mark Kasevich

2021 - Savas Dimopoulos, Kathryn A. Moler, Daniel Z. Freedman

2020 - Blas Cabrera

2019 - Todd J. Martinez

2015 - Daniel S. Fisher, Aharon Kapitulnik, Stephen H. Shenker, Shoucheng Zhang, Zhi-Xun Shen

2013 - Stephen R. Quake

2010 - Persis S. Drell, Steven A. Kivelson

2008 - Andrei Linde

2007 - Steven M. Block

2005 - Roger D. Blandford

2004 - Philip H. Bucksbaum

2000 - Leonard Susskind, Robert L. Byer

1995 - Carl E. Wieman

1994 - Robert B. Laughlin

1993 - Steven Chu

1988 - Anthony E. Siegman

1987 - Douglas D. Osheroff

1981 - Stephen E. Harris

1973 - James Daniel Bjorken

1970 - Arthur L. Schawlow

1969 - Sidney D. Drell

1968 - W. Conyers Herring

1963 - William M. Fairbank

1958 - Robert Hofstadter

1954 - W. K. H. Panofsky

Since 1988, the Oskar Klein Centre organizes the yearly Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture. The Oskar Klein Memorial Lectures are sponsored by The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences through its Nobel Committee for Physics and by Stockholm University.

2024 - Renata Kallosh

In 1988, the Packard Foundation established the Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering to allow the nation’s most promising professors to pursue science and engineering research early in their careers with few funding restrictions and limited reporting requirements. The program arose out of David Packard’s commitment to strengthening university-based science and engineering programs in recognition that the success of the Hewlett-Packard Company, which he cofounded, derived in large measure from the research and development in university laboratories.

2021 - Vedika Khemani

2017 - Amir Safavi-Naeini

2011 - Xiaoliang Qi

2010 - Benjamin Lev

2004 - David Goldhaber-Gordon

2001 - Kathryn A. Moler

2000 - Shamit Kachru

1999 - Stephen R. Quake

1998 - Yuri Suzuki

Established by President Clinton in 1996, PECASE recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers. The award recognizes innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology, expands awareness of careers in science and engineering, recognizes the scientific missions of participating agencies, enhances connections between research and impacts on society, and highlights the importance of science and technology for our nation’s future.

2025 - Vedika Khemani , Douglas Stanford 

Each year, the Simons Foundation requests nominations from a targeted list of institutions in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland for the Simons Investigator programs. Simons Investigators are outstanding theoretical scientists who receive a stable base of research support from the foundation, enabling them to undertake the long-term study of fundamental questions.

2022 - Douglas Stanford

2021 - Shanhui Fan, Peter Graham

2019 - Sean Hartnoll

2018 - Xiao-Liang Qi

2017 - Shamit Kachru, Eva Silverstein

2014 - Patrick Hayden

The TOPTICA BEC Award for Lifetime Achievements 2023 recognizes longstanding important contributions to the field of Experimental and/or Theoretical Physics of Quantum Degenerate Atomic Gases.

2023 - Alexander Fetter