Zoë Holmes wins the 2025 Zonta Prize

Zoë Holmes, a tenure-track assistant professor at EPFL and Principal Investigator of the NCCR SPIN, has been awarded the 2025 Zonta Prize, one of Switzerland’s most recognized distinctions for outstanding young women scientists. The announcement was made on Friday, November 7, during a ceremony at EPFL, which was held under the patronage of the School’s president, Anna Fontcuberta i Morral.

Appointed as a tenure-track assistant professor before the age of 30, Holmes has rapidly emerged as one of the most promising researchers in quantum science. President Fontcuberta i Morral praised her as “an exceptional scientist who sees disciplines in a transversal and interconnected way.”

The Zonta Prize, awarded every two years, honors a female scientist in Switzerland for outstanding achievement and leadership potential in research. Holmes’ work spans fundamental quantum physics, quantum computation, and emerging directions in nonequilibrium systems.

Her recognition underscores not only her scientific achievements but also the strong momentum of the Swiss quantum research ecosystem.