The Karl Scheel Prize 2026, awarded by the Physikalische Gesellschaft zu Berlin e.V., honours Prof. Seiler's pioneering research on ultrafast processes in condensed matter physics. Using femtosecond electron diffraction, her work provides unique insights into electron-phonon and phonon-phonon interactions in materials such as two-dimensional materials, lead-halide perovskites, and molecular crystals. The award ceremony takes place on 26 June 2026 at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Berlin. As part of the ceremony, Prof. Seiler will deliver her award lecture entitled "Tracking atomic motions in real time with femtosecond electron diffraction."

Prof. Stephanie Reich, spokesperson of CRC 1772 and laudator at the award ceremony, praised Prof. Seiler's achievements:

"Hélène Seiler has made highly original and pioneering contributions to the field of ultrafast structural dynamics during her still young career and is already widely recognised as an emerging independent scientist within the international research community."

We warmly congratulate Prof. Seiler on this well-deserved recognition and are proud to have her as part of CRC 1772.

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The Karl Scheel Prize is the most important prize of the Physikalische Gesellschaft zu Berlin, Regionalverband Berlin/Brandenburg der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft (PGzB), and is usually awarded to a member for an outstanding scientific achievement in the years immediately following a doctorate and predominantly at a research institution in the states of Berlin or Brandenburg. The prize, which is usually endowed with € 5,000, has been awarded to more than 80 scientists since 1958.