Merck Honors Alán Aspuru-Guzik with the Heinrich Emanuel Merck Award for Computational Sciences
Chemist wins prestigious science award worth € 15,000
Merck announced that the Heinrich Emanuel Merck Award has been bestowed upon Alán Aspuru-Guzik (48), professor of chemistry and computer science at the University of Toronto, Canada, in recognition of his groundbreaking innovations in computational sciences.
The award ceremony, held at the Stadttheater Lindau in conjunction with the Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting, highlighted the critical role of computational sciences in driving transformative research and fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
“My research interests are in areas that are poised to disrupt the chemical sciences. We have pioneered algorithms for near-term quantum computers, and artificial intelligence and robotics for new materials. Recently we have focused strongly on AI agents that do science,” Aspuru-Guzik elaborated when receiving the prize in Lindau. “Receiving the Heinrich Emanuel Merck Award is a testament to the exceptionally talented, motivated, and collaborative Matter Lab research group that we have assembled at the University of Toronto.”
“Today we celebrate not just individual achievements, but a shared commitment to accelerating scientific discovery – driving breakthroughs that transform lives and open entirely new frontiers for innovation,” Laura Matz, Chief Science and Technology Officer at Merck, said in her laudatory speech.
Aspuru-Guzik was awarded for his work as a leading researcher at the intersection of quantum information, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, automation, and chemistry. The award also honors his dedication to accelerating scientific discovery and finding novel materials. His work includes utilizing generative machine learning to optimize wave functions for quantum simulations. Additionally, he has made a significant contribution toward the development of self-driving laboratories (SDLs) that leverage Al and automation – as exemplified by his successful identification of top-performing organic lasers.
The innovative work at the lab of Aspuru-Guzik also includes integrating quantum components into drug discovery pipelines, showcasing the potential of hybrid quantum-classical systems in generating viable drug options. Through these efforts, Aspuru-Guzik's team is making significant contributions to advancing materials science and chemistry.
The awardee is also the CIFAR AI Chair at the Vector Institute in Toronto, Director of the Acceleration Consortium at the University of Toronto, and Senior Director of Quantum Chemistry at NVIDIA.
The Heinrich Emanuel Merck award not only honors individual achievements, but also serves as a catalyst for future innovation and collaboration in the field of computational sciences. Worth € 15,000, it recognizes scientists whose work focuses on new methods in chemical analysis and their development in applications in fields such as life sciences, environmental protection, and biosciences. Since 2025, the award has shifted focus to recognize innovations in computational sciences, reflecting the transformative impact of these fields.
Other news from the department people
Most read news
More news from our other portals
Last viewed contents
The EPO unveils the top 10 innovators of the first standalone edition of the Young Inventors Prize 2025 - Prize recognises innovators under 30 who are tackling Global Challenges through groundbreaking science and technology
Electrical energy storage: BAM, HZB, and HU Berlin plan joint Berlin Battery Lab - The Berlin Battery Lab is open to industry partners from all over Germany and Europe
A cooperation for greener batteries - Max Planck develops sodium-sulphur batteries together with the Australian-British battery manufacturer Gelion
Thyssenkrupp nucera and Fraunhofer IKTS open First SOEC Pilot Production Plant for Stacks for the Production of Green Hydrogen
Largest carbon removal investment round globally year to date - Climeworks raises USD 162M to scale up technology
Finalists Announced for the ISC3 Innovation Challenge 2025 on “Sustainable Chemistry & Climate Change” - Ready, set, here are the Changemakers!
CustomCells secures its future with new investors - New investors secure development and production of state-of-the-art battery cells at the technology cluster in Itzehoe
HORIBA opens new Analytical Solution Plaza to support UK science and research
Check the sustainability of chemicals easily onlin - Freely available web application helps users of chemicals, including product manufacturers, to assess the sustainability of their products
Stretchable Electronics: Conductive Polymer Optimized for Wearable Biosensors - A deformable patch that measures the heart rate or detects biomarkers in the sweat and feels as soft and flexible as one's own skin
Producing Desired Epoxides from Pollutants - A new selective biocatalyst
