Next Cavendish Professor of Physics Announced

The Cavendish Laboratory is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Nicola Marzari as the next Cavendish Professor of Physics. This historic chair, established in 1871, has played a central role in the leadership and direction of the Laboratory for over 150 years.

The Cavendish Professorship has been held by some of the most influential figures in the history of physics who, between them, changed completely our understanding of the physical world. Previous Cavendish Professors included James Clerk Maxwell, J J Thomson, Ernest Rutherford, and Nevill Mott.

The most recent holder, Professor Sir Richard Friend, served from 1995 to 2020. A leader in semiconductor physics and optoelectronics, his pioneering work on organic semiconductors has had lasting impact in both fundamental science and practical applications.

The Laboratory now looks forward to welcoming the next Cavendish Professor, Professor Nicola Marzari, who will take up the post in September.

Professor Mete Atatüre, Head of the Cavendish Laboratory, said:

“Professor Marzari’s research is dedicated to the development and application of novel electronic-structure theories, algorithms, and software to understand, predict, and ultimately design the properties of complex materials and complex states of matter.

“This field is now achieving its long sought holy grail: predictive accuracy, where first-principles, quantum mechanical simulations can accurately describe the behaviour of interacting electrons and ions; the ability to capture the complexity of the real world by bridging length and time scales and abstracting microscopic dynamics of particles and excitations into mesoscopic models; and the growing power of machine learning and artificial intelligence, which are rapidly reshaping our approaches to scientific discovery and understanding.

“We are delighted to welcome Nicola to our community in this distinguished role, as his innovative work perfectly complements the pioneering research underway at the Cavendish Laboratory.”

Commenting on his appointment, Professor Nicola Marzari said:

“The Cavendish Laboratory has been for 70 years a home and a beacon for condensed matter theory – and has delivered for 150 years innumerable breakthroughs in physics and beyond that reverberate worldwide.

“This appointment comes at a very special time, where the combination of human ingenuity and computational prowess, alongside both honed and novel capabilities, provides a never-ending playground for science.

“Yet, this excitement should be matched by a profound sense of responsibility, aiming to harness these capabilities to support a world under strain, and to contribute meaningfully to the well-being and, ideally, the flourishing of billions of humans and the ecosystems on which we all depend.”

We extend our warmest congratulations to our new Cavendish Professor and look forward to the next chapter in the Laboratory’s long tradition of excellence in research, education, and discovery.