Two ERC grantees among 2025 Wolf Prize winners in physics and agriculture
The winners, announced on 10 March in Jerusalem, include physicists Jainendra Jain, Moty Heiblum, and James Eisenstein, recognised for their contributions to understanding the properties of two-dimensional electron systems in strong magnetic fields. In agriculture, Jeffery Dangl, Jonathan Jones, and Brian Staskawicz were honoured for their groundbreaking discoveries on plant immune systems and disease resistance.
Among the laureates, Professor Moty Heiblum and Professor Jonathan Jones have received funding from the European Research Council (ERC).
Mordehai (Moty) Heiblum, an Israeli electrical engineer and condensed matter physicist, is known for his research in mesoscopic physics. He has been awarded three ERC Advanced Grants (2008, 2014 and 2018) and is currently conducting further studies at the Weizmann Institute of Science, focusing on fractional charge and statistics using electronic interferometers.
Jonathan Jones studies plant-microbe interactions and plant immunity. His work explores how plants defend themselves against disease, with applications in agriculture and crop improvement. He co-founded Mendel Biotechnology and Norfolk Plant Sciences Ltd to develop crops with enhanced traits. He has received two ERC Advanced Grants (2008 and 2014) for research at the Sainsbury Laboratory on plant immune systems.
About the Wolf Prize
The international Wolf Prizes are awarded to outstanding scientists and artists from around the world, for achievements in the interest of mankind and friendly relations amongst peoples. The scientific categories of the prize include Medicine, Agriculture, Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics. The prize in each field consists of a certificate and a monetary award of 100,000 US dollars.
Wolf Prizes awarded to ERC grantees
Professors Anne L'Huillier and Ferenc Krausz won the Wolf Prize in Physics in 2022. Prof. Giorgio Parisi received the Wolf Prize 2021 in Physics. In 2020, Prof. Caroline Dean won the Prize for Agriculture while Prof. Simon Donaldson received the Mathematics Prize. The 2019 Mathematics prize went to Prof. Jean-Francois Le Gall. In 2014, Prof. Leif Andersson was distinguished with the Agriculture Prize, and in 2013 Prof. Peter Zoller won the Prize for Physics. In 2010, Professors Alain Aspect and Anton Zeilinger won the Prize for Physics, while Prof. David Baulcombe received the Agriculture Prize. Several other ERC grantees were awarded the Wolf Prize before they were funded by the ERC.
