Astro particle physicist Julia Tjus, nano scientist Herre van der Zant and Babak Hassibi, who researches in Data science and AI will be conferred to honorary doctors at Chalmers 2025. Astronaut Marcus Wandt, appointed honorary doctor in 2024, will also be conferred at this year’s Doctoral Degree Conferment Ceremony.
The honorary doctors are appointed by Chalmers Faculty Senate and will receive their awards at Chalmers Doctoral Degree Conferment Ceremony on 24 May 2025.
Herre van der Zant is a Professor at the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, at the Technical University Delft, where he cofounded the Molecular Electronics and Devices group.
He is awarded an honorary doctorate for seminal work in nanoelectronics and nanomechanics with an impressive breadth of his often very interdisciplinary research ranging from chemistry and life-science aspects to quantum science and nanoelectronics. His fundamental-science contributions, such as on mechanically controlled break junctions for molecular electronics and graphene research, have also high innovation character with proof-of-principle devices that have been demonstrated in his lab. Hence, beyond the groundbreaking character of his fundamental research, its innovative aspects fit also very well into Chalmers’ strive to bring novel research to applications.
Herre van der Zant has for many years strong connections to Chalmers, in particular but not only as active and very supportive member of the Advisory Board of the Nano Area of Advance at Chalmers, since the creation of the AoAs. Herre van der Zant has been very active in the Graphene flagship, which has been coordinated at Chalmers, and he has been coordinating European projects, which Chalmers was part of.
Julia Tjus is a professor and Director of the Ruhr Astroparticle and Plasma Physics Centre at Ruhr University Bochum.
She has been awarded an honorary doctorate for her groundbreaking contributions to astroparticle physics, particularly in neutrino astronomy and cosmic ray research. Her pioneering work with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory has significantly advanced our understanding of the high-energy universe, including the detection of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, in neutrino light. Julia Tjus has also integrated plasma physics into astrophysical studies, bridging theoretical models with observational data.
Julia Tjus has maintained strong ties with Chalmers University of Technology since her postdoctoral research in Gothenburg. As a jubilee professor at Chalmers in 2023, she promoted Nordic collaborations linking radio and neutrino astronomy, organized international conferences, and initiated joint research projects. She maintains close and continuous collaborations with researchers at Chalmers, further strengthening the university's global research networks. This year, Julia Tjus will take up a position as an affiliated professor at the Department of Space, Earth and Environment.
Babak Hassibi is a Professor of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences at California institute of technology (Caltech), USA.
He is awarded an honorary doctorate for decades of multi-disciplinary research in electrical and communication engineering, control theory, computer science and AI. In his career, he has made outstanding contributions to these fields with great impact over the years. His recent research on mathematical techniques for large-scale statistical machine learning has played a key role in analyzing modern, complex AI methods.
In 2022, Babak Hassibi was the leader of a theme semester on theoretical foundations of AI at Chalmers and visited Chalmers on multiple occasions. The theme semester lead by him had a great impact on the visibility of Chalmers in the fields related to the theory of data science. He also maintains sustained collaborations with Chalmers researchers at E2 and CSE departments in both academic and industrial projects, especially in the field of autonomous driving.
Marcus Wandt has been working as a test pilot at Saab in Linköping since 2014 and, starting in 2024, as a Chief Innovation Officer.
Marcus Wandt was selected as an ESA astronaut in 2022 and has been employed as a project astronaut since 2023. He made his first space journey during January – February 2024 when he traveled to the International Space Station as a mission specialist on Axiom-3 mission. His career has been outstanding, and he has received numerous awards and prizes.
He is awarded an honorary doctorate for his exceptionally successful mission in space, not only in terms of research, but also in his ability to communicate this unique experience to the public. Marcus has also made it clear in an exemplary way why space research is important to humanity and emphasized the role of basic research in our society.
Marcus Wandt graduated from the civil engineering program in electrical engineering at Chalmers in 2007. He likes to emphasize his educational background where he emphasizes that an engineer's skills - problem solving, creativity and the ability to understand and apply advanced technology - are invaluable in a complex and sometimes unpredictable environment. With his experience and communication skills, he is a great asset and inspiration for Chalmers and its current and prospective students in general and in space research in particular. This is extremely timely as Chalmers has newly started a thematic area Space which will develop sustainable solutions in space technology to meet societal challenges now and in the future, within and beyond the borders of our planet.
Marcus Wandt was appointed honorary doctor in 2024, but since he could not attend the conferment ceremony last year, he will instead be conferred at the 2025 ceremony.