MaX CoE congratulates Professor Stefano Baroni on this outstanding achievement and thanks him for his lasting contributions to computational physics and open scientific collaboration.
MaX Centre of Excellence warmly congratulates Professor Stefano Baroni, member of the MaX community, for being awarded the 2026 Aneesur Rahman Prize for Computational Physics by the American Physical Society (APS). The Rahman Prize is the highest international recognition in the field of computational physics and is awarded annually to honour outstanding achievements and the promotion of knowledge in this discipline.
Stefano Baroni, Professor of Condensed Matter Physics at the Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) and Research Associate at the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto Officina dei Materiali (CNR–IOM), received the award “for seminal contributions to the development of first-principles methods to investigate the electronic and thermal properties of condensed systems, and for the development and dissemination of open-source software for electronic structure calculations that has been widely adopted.”
Throughout his career, Stefano Baroni has deeply influenced the field of computational condensed matter physics. His work has led to the introduction of linear-response methods in Density-Functional Theory and formulation of density-functional and time-dependent density-functional perturbation theories; the development of stochastic quantum simulation techniques, including Reptation Quantum Monte Carlo; the advancement of theoretical approaches to heat and charge transport in solids, liquids, and glasses. His contributions also include the conception and promotion of a broader vision for realization, and long-term support of the Quantum ESPRESSO open-source software suite, a global standard for materials modelling and simulation.
Professor Baroni has long been recognized for bridging theoretical innovation with practical implementation. His leadership and pedagogical clarity have inspired generations of researchers and have been instrumental in ensuring that advanced theoretical frameworks are transformed into accessible, high-quality open-source tools.
In reflecting on the award, Professor Baroni acknowledged the collective nature of his achievements:
“Like many recognitions that come later in life, this one is — if not above all — a tribute to the colleagues, and to the students, who made my work possible… Throughout my career, the creation, development, and promotion of Quantum ESPRESSO have been a collective endeavor, whose success I share with all those who have accompanied and supported me.”
The entire MaX community celebrates this prestigious recognition, which also highlights the importance of open science, collaborative software development, and theoretical excellence, core principles that drive the MaX mission.
About the Aneesur Rahman Prize
Established in 1992, the Aneesur Rahman Prize for Computational Physics is awarded annually by the American Physical Society to recognize outstanding contributions in computational physics. It commemorates Dr. Aneesur Rahman, a pioneer of molecular dynamics simulations, and honors achievements that significantly advance the field through innovation, impact, and dissemination.
About MaX CoE
MaX Centre of Excellence enables materials research at the exascale through advanced software development, data analytics, and high-performance computing. It supports leading European codes for materials simulations, including Quantum ESPRESSO, and fosters an open, collaborative scientific ecosystem across Europe.
Links
🔗 Full APS Announcement
🔗 Quantum ESPRESSO Foundation
🔗 SISSA
🔗 CNR–IOM