Distinguished Professor and UC Presidential Chair Paul S. Weiss has been selected as a 2026 Fellow of Sigma Xi in recognition of his exemplary career investigating chemistry, nanoscience, bioengineering, and materials science, as well as contributions to the society.
The Sigma Xi Fellow Distinction recognizes members who have demonstrated exceptional service to the organization and made significant contributions to research and development, outreach, teaching, mentorship, leadership and science advocacy. Weiss has previously been awarded Sigma Xi’s William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement.
The 2026 cohort of Sigma Xi Fellows will be recognized during the International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE), a virtual event scheduled for Nov. 7, 2026. The Fellows Ceremony is scheduled for 9:10 a.m. Pacific time, followed by a networking event connecting fellows with emerging scientists and students.
Sigma Xi, founded in 1886, is an international scientific research honor society dedicated to recognizing research excellence and supporting scientific inquiry. Its mission emphasizes advancing research and improving the human condition.
Throughout his career, Weiss has been recognized as a leading figure in nanoscience, contributing to advances in scanning probe microscopy, molecular-scale imaging and the design of functional nanostructures. He has also played a major role in shaping the field through scientific leadership, including his work as the founding editor-in-chief of ACS Nano and as the former director of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA.
Weiss continues to lead interdisciplinary research at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, engineering, medicine and nanotechnology, inspiring the next generation of scientists to explore the now less hidden world of the nanoscale.
Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@ucla.edu.
