INL Director-General Receives Prestigious Klemens Lifetime Achievement Award

December 10, 2025

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory is proud to announce that the International Condensed Matter Physics Community has bestowed one of its highest honours upon Professor Clivia Sotomayor, the Director-General of INL. Presented during the Phonons 2025 conference in Buenos Aires by Professor Andrea Bragas of the University of Buenos Aires, Professor Clivia was named the recipient of the 2025 Klemens Lifetime Achievement Award.

A Distinguished Legacy

Established in 1986, the Klemens Lifetime Achievement Award recognises scientists whose work has profoundly shaped the field of phonon physics. Each edition of the Phonons 2025 conference presents this recognition, celebrating exceptional lifetime contributions that advance both fundamental understanding and the cohesion of the global phonon research community.

Previous recipients represent the field’s most influential figures, including Paul G. Klemens (1986), A. C. Anderson (1989), R. Berman (1992), Lawrence J. Challis and Wolfgang Eisenmenger (1998), Humphrey Maris (2007), Manuel Cardona (2012), Tsuneyoshi Nakayama (2015), Bernard Perrin (2018), and David Cahill (2023). Therefore, this distinguished lineage underscores the exceptional significance of the honour.

The 2025 award citation acknowledges Professor Sotomayor’s remarkable contributions to the field:

“We are delighted to share that the recipient of the 2025 Klemens Lifetime Achievement Award is Clivia Sotomayor, for her outstanding contributions to the physics of phonon scattering in semiconductor nanostructures and her sustained efforts to build a strong, collaborative phonon community.”

Scientific Impact

Professor Sotomayor’s research has encompassed a wide range of topics that have significantly shaped the understanding of phonon physics. Her work spans phonons in bulk materials, two-dimensional layers, nanometre-scale silicon-on-insulator membranes, nanoscale thermal transport, thermoelectricity, phonon diodes, and phononic crystals. Most recently, she has also pioneered investigations into the emerging field of topological phonons.

These contributions have established foundational directions in the study of lattice vibrations in low-dimensional systems and have significantly enhanced our understanding of phenomena. Through decades of rigorous research and mentorship, Professor Sotomayor has recognised the importance of fostering an interconnected global community dedicated to advancing phonon physics.

Now, this honour stands as a fitting recognition of Professor Clivia’s enduring dedication to scientific excellence and her unwavering commitment to collaborative research at the highest level – a mission that she propels at INL, as the Director-General of the institution.