The Ferdinando Pulidori Prize of the International Group for the Thermodynamics of Metal Complexes for outstanding emerging researchers.
Pulidori Prize is an award dedicated to the memory of Prof. Fernando Pulidori from the University of Ferrara (Italy).
Since 2007, each year, in the occasion of the ISMeC Congress, the Fernando Pulidori Awards is granted to a young researcher, preferably an expert in thermodynamics and/or kinetics of complexation phenomena in solution, author of an original paper published in the last three years or accepted for publication at the deadline of application.
Prof. F. Pulidori (1928-2007) was an italian chemist, specialized in thermodynamic chemistry, solution equilibria and solute-solvent interactions of model organic compounds. He was born on June 26th, 1928 in Ferrara. In 1958, he graduated in Chemistry at the University of Ferrara, after five years in the food industry, and in 1968 he completed his PhD in Physical Chemistry.
Between 1981 and 2000 he was Full Professor of Instrumental Analytical Chemistry of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Ferrara, Head of the Chemistry Department (1988-1994) and President of the Italian Group of Thermodynamics of Complexes within the Italian Chemical Society.
He was one of the founders and former President of the Italian Gruppo di Termodinamica dei Complessi, and dedicated his scientific life to the development of chemical thermodynamics and solution equilibria research field and to the training of young researchers on that area.
His research interest focused on three main fields:
- Solution equilibria: thermodynamic studies on formation of metal complexes with low-molecular weight ligands, stereoselective effects in ternary complex formation and their application in resolution of enantiomer mixtures.
- Solute-solvent interactions of model organic compounds in aqueous solutions. Hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions and solvation models.
- Dipole moments in apolar solvents; corrosion and inhibition of iron corrosion; adsorption of organic compounds at polarized interfaces and electrical double layer structures; electroreduction mechanisms of organic compounds of environmental interest.
1st edition: ISMEC 2007 – Cagliari
Alessia Boggioni – University of Pisa (Italy)
Marcello Gennari – University of Parma (Italy)
2nd edition: ISMEC 2009 – Pisa
Silvia Biagini – University of Firenze (Italy)
Joanna I. Lachowicz – University of Cagliari (Italy)
3rd edition: ISMEC 2010 – Bilbao
Gabriele Lando – University of Messina (Italy)
4th edition: ISMEC 2011 – Giardini Naxos
Elisa Turriani – University of Pisa (Italy)
5th edition: ISMEC 2012 – Lisboa
Jorge González García – University of Valencia (Spain)
6th edition: ISMEC 2013 – Burgos
Greta Bergamaschi – University of Pavia (Italy)
7th edition: ISMEC 2014 – Pavia
Slawomir Potocki – University of Wroclaw (Poland)
8th edition: ISMEC 2015 – Wroclaw
Matteo Savastano – University of Firenze (Italy)
9th edition: ISMEC 2016 – Barcelona
Natalia Busto Vázquez – University of Burgos (Spain)
10th edition: ISMEC 2017 – Dijon
Sergey Alexandrovich Adonin – Novosibirsk State University (Russian Federation)
11th edition: ISMEC 2018 – Firenze
Norbert Lihi – University of Debrecen (Hungary)
12th edition: ISMEC 2019 – Debrecen
Anna Irto – University of Messina (Italy)
Àlvaro Martinez-Camarena – University of Valencia (Spain)
13th edition: ISMEC 2020
Denise Bellotti – University of Ferrara (Italy)
14th edition: ISMEC 2021 – Bialystok
Marianna Tosato – University of Padova (Italy)
János Péter Mészáros – University of Szeged (Hungary)
15th edition: ISMEC 2022 – València
Adriana Miller – University of Wroclaw (Poland)
Martina Sanadar – University of Udine (Italy)
16th edition: ISMEC 2023 – Urbino
Francesca Binacchi – University of Pisa (Italy)
Giammarco Maria Romano – University of Firenze (Italy)
17th edition: ISMEC 2024 – Nizza
Lisa Rita Magnaghi – University of Pavia (Italy)
18th edition: ISMEC 2025 – Granada
Kinga Garstka-Litwin – University of claw (Poland)
19th edition: ISMEC 2026 – Udine
Giuseppina Domenica Giovanna Santonoceta – University of Catania (Italy)
The 19th Fernando Pulidori Prize of the International Group for the Thermodynamics of Metal Complexes – (ISMeC Group – Pulidori Prize) will be awarded to a postdoctoral researcher whose research demonstrates excellence within the core scientific themes of the ISMeC Group(ismecgroup.org). Candidates should preferably have conducted research focusing on the thermodynamics and/or kinetics of solution complexation phenomena.
Applicants must be the main author (first, last, corresponding) of at least one original research paper published between 2023 and 2026 or accepted for publication by the application deadline (official acceptance letter will be required).
Eligible candidates must:
- hold a PhD degree in a relevant discipline at the call deadline
- be main author (first, last, corresponding) of at least one publication in a peer-reviewed journal
- be ≤ 35 years old on December 31st, 2026.
- hold a non-permanent research position (e.g. postdoctoral fellow) at a University or a Research Institution.
Application procedure
Applicants must send an email to the Organizing Committee of the ISMEC2026 Congress (ismec2026(at)uniud.it, writing in the subject line: “ISMEC-Pulidori prize application <SURNAME>”) before March 27th, 2026 with the documents detailed below, attached as a single .zip file (max. 20MB).
Documents to submit
- A cover letter explaining the role of the candidate in the work done for the paper presented for evaluation
- A curriculum vitae (EU format) in .pdf: the applicant’s academic career and achievements, a description of the scientific activity highlighting the relevance to the ISMeC topics, international experience, list of articles/presentations/posters/patents, grants
- A copy of the paper selected by the candidate to be presented for evaluation, in PDF format
- A copy of a valid ID
Rewards
The winner will attend ISMEC 2026 with the registration free of charge. In addition, she/he will receive: a certificate, an engraved metal plaque, and a 300 € prize. The winner will be invited to give an invited lecture on the winning paper during the award ceremony. Furthermore, an extended abstract highlighting the winner’s scientific activity will be published in “La Chimica e l’Industria“, the official journal of the Italian Chemical Society.
Evaluation
Submitted applications will be evaluated by the International Scientific Committee of ISMEC 2026, considering:
- the scientific level of the paper, its originality and innovative character in the field of thermodynamics and/or kinetics of complexes in solution, the number of authors and the role of the applicant among the authors, her/his contribution to the research;
- the curriculum of the applicant: experience, international profile, papers, grants and conference attendance (especially previous ISMEC Meetings).