Physicist Eva Andrei Becomes First Rutgers Professor to Earn Kavli Prize, One of the Highest Honors in Science
Physicist Eva Andrei from Rutgers University became the first faculty member at the institution to earn the 2026 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience for her foundational work in twistronics, a field she helped establish by demonstrating how twisting graphene layers alters their electronic properties. She will share the $1 million prize with Pablo Jarillo-Herrero from MIT and Allan H. MacDonald from the University of Texas at Austin, with the award ceremony taking place in Oslo, Norway, in September 2026.
Physicist Eva Andrei, a Board of Governors Professor in Rutgers University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, has been named a 2026 Kavli Laureate in Nanoscience—the first Rutgers faculty member to receive the prestigious award. Andrei, along with Pablo Jarillo-Herrero from MIT and Allan H. MacDonald from the University of Texas at Austin, will share the $1 million prize for pioneering work in twistronics, a field that explores how twisting atomically thin materials like graphene can drastically alter their electronic properties. The Kavli Prize, awarded every two years, recognizes transformative discoveries in astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience. Andrei’s research demonstrated that stacking two graphene sheets with a slight twist could change their behavior from metallic to insulating or superconducting, enabling unprecedented control over material properties. Her lab at Rutgers was the first to uncover these "moiré" patterns, laying the groundwork for twistronics—a collaboration that included key contributions from Dr. Guohong Li. The award ceremony will be held in Oslo, Norway, in September 2026, presided over by the Royal Family. The Kavli Prize is administered by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, and the Kavli Foundation. Since its inception, 10 Kavli laureates have gone on to win Nobel Prizes. Andrei, who earned her Ph.D. from Rutgers in 1982, emphasized the collective effort behind the breakthrough, crediting her students, postdocs, and collaborators. She described twistronics as a field that unites condensed matter physicists, materials scientists, and quantum engineers in innovative ways. The recognition also highlights Rutgers’ role as a hub for nanoscience research. The prize underscores the potential of twistronics for future technologies, including ultrafast computer chips, advanced medical imaging sensors, and more efficient power grids. Annelin Eriksen, president of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, called the award an investment in humanity’s shared future, celebrating the curiosity and rigor driving scientific progress.
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