FRIB's Witek Nazarewicz elected foreign member of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Witek Nazarewicz, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Physics at Michigan State University (MSU) and chief scientist at FRIB, has been elected a foreign member of the Polish Academy of Sciences, one of Poland's highest scientific honors.

Established in 1952, the Polish Academy of Sciences is Poland's premier scientific institution. Foreign membership is awarded to distinguished scientists from outside Poland whose achievements have made significant contributions to science and international cooperation. Candidates are nominated and evaluated through a review process before election by the academy's General Assembly.

"As a U.S. scientist raised in Poland, I am extremely proud to have been elected a foreign member of the Polish Academy of Sciences," Nazarewicz said. "Throughout my career, I have maintained close connections with the Polish scientific community, and I hope this recognition will further strengthen collaborations between researchers in Poland and at FRIB."

Nazarewicz's research focuses on advancing the theoretical understanding of atomic nuclei, particularly those at the limits of stability. His work combines nuclear many-body theory, high-performance computing, and machine learning to explain the structure and behavior of rare isotopes and to guide experimental investigations at facilities such as FRIB. His research has contributed to scientists' understanding of how atomic nuclei are organized and how heavy elements are formed in the universe.

"This exceptional milestone both honors Witek's extraordinary scientific achievements and enduring contributions to his field and reflects MSU's stature as a global leader in discovery, innovation, and research excellence," said Shashank Priya, Vice President for Research and Innovation at MSU. "As a university ranked among the top 6 percent of institutions worldwide by U.S. News & World Report, MSU is distinguished by a culture of scientific excellence, international collaboration, and bold intellectual leadership—qualities Witek has embodied throughout a truly remarkable career. His achievements inspire the next generation of researchers, deepen our global research partnerships, and exemplify how visionary scholarship can expand the frontiers of knowledge and create a lasting impact for communities around the world."

Nazarewicz holds faculty appointments at FRIB and in MSU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. Throughout his career, he has worked to strengthen scientific partnerships between researchers in the United States, Poland, and around the world.

The election adds to a distinguished list of honors recognizing Nazarewicz's contributions to nuclear physics. In 2025, he received the Marian Smoluchowski Medal from the Polish Physical Society for his pioneering research on the structure of atomic nuclei and for advancing international scientific collaboration. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has received numerous international awards for his contributions to theoretical nuclear physics, including the 2012 APS Tom W. Bonner Prize.

"Election to the Polish Academy of Sciences is a tremendous honor,” said FRIB Laboratory Director Thomas Glasmacher. “We congratulate Witek on this honor and are proud to celebrate this milestone with him.”

Nazarewicz will receive his diploma of Foreign Membership during a ceremony at the Polish Academy of Sciences' headquarters in Warsaw in December 2026.

Michigan State University (MSU) operates the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) as a user facility for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC), with financial support from and furthering the mission of the DOE-SC Office of Nuclear Physics.