Marina Bennati

Prof. Marina Bennati is awarded the IES Silver Medal in Physics 2022 for her fundamental contributions to advance the physics of electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and liquid-state dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) spectroscopy at high magnetic fields, and their application for the study of paramagnetic molecular systems. Both ENDOR and DNP tools rely on exploiting the hyperfine interactions between the paramagnetic centers and the nuclear spins in their vicinity. Bennati pioneered cross-polarization ENDOR pulse sequences and statistical data analysis methods to achieve, among others, 17O detection of water participating in the proton-coupled electron transfer and 19F ENDOR to measure inter spin distance in the angstrom to nanometer range. Her group designed paramagnetic agents with optimized electron-nuclear cross relaxation rates to achieve significant DNP effects in the liquid state at high magnetic fields—the holy grail of hyperpolarization. Her contributions to the field include also the dissemination of ENDOR in the quasi-optical regime (263 GHz/9.4 T) for routine usage. Bennati has made a significant impact on the field of EPR through her contribution to advancing the physics of hyperfine EPR and DNP spectroscopic tools, as well as through her leadership to enhancing the visibility of the EPR community. The International EPR (ESR) Society is proud to honor Professor Marina Bennati for her distinguished contributions to the society.