Professor Michele Parrinello in the Citation Laureates 2024

Professor Michele Parrinello, Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Informatics of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), has received a prestigious accolade: he has been included in the list of Citation Laureates 2024, an honour that often anticipates future Nobel Prize winners. Parrinello was honoured for his outstanding contributions in theoretical chemistry, particularly for developing the Car-Parrinello method, which revolutionised the way molecular and atomic phenomena are studied.

The collaborative work of Professor Michele Parrinello and Roberto Car, both Citation Laureates 2024, has left an indelible mark on theoretical chemistry. Their introduction of the Car-Parrinello method in 1985, a fusion of quantum mechanics and molecular dynamics, has allowed for the simulation of atomic and molecular behaviour. This breakthrough has facilitated more accurate and precise simulations over extended timeframes, making it an indispensable tool in materials science, chemistry, and molecular biology.

Thanks to this methodology, it is now possible to study the behaviour of molecules under realistic and dynamic conditions. This opens up new avenues for research into chemical reactions, material properties, and complex biological interactions. The Car-Parrinello method has become a standard in its field and continues to be used in multiple studies spanning different disciplines.

Recognition of a lifetime's work and global impact

Professor Michele Parrinello's inclusion in the list of Citation Laureates for 2024, determined by the experts at Clarivate Plc's Institute for Scientific Information, highlights not only the excellence of his lifetime's work, but also its significance and impact on the international scientific community, both now and in the long term. This recognition is reserved for individuals whose work has been exceptionally cited in the scientific literature. From developing new molecules to making advancements in materials physics, the applications of the Car-Parrinello method continue to expand today, demonstrating how his contributions have revolutionised the field of computational sciences.

The Citation Laureates

Parrinello is one of 22 researchers selected for 2024 from a list that includes world-renowned scientists and economists from six countries. Since 1989, when it was still called Thomson Reuters Citation Laureates, the Citation Laureates programme has become an important indicator of potential future Nobel Prize recipients. Over the decades, more than 70 scholars who have been named Citation Laureates have gone on to win the Nobel Prize in subsequent years. The selection process is based on a thorough analysis of citations and scientific publications in the Web of Science database, one of the most important tools for monitoring global academic impact. Citation Laureates are selected from individuals who have published groundbreaking research that has significantly impacted advancements in fields such as chemistry, physics, medicine, and economics.

The recognition of Professor Parrinello as one of the 2024 Citation Laureates not only reaffirms the prestige of his outstanding career, but also highlights the important role of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in advancing high-quality, cutting-edge research. Parrinello is a symbol of academic excellence, and his contributions have had a significant impact on the field of theoretical chemistry and continue to influence various scientific disciplines.