Professor of Physics Germano Iannacchione has been selected as a 2026 Fellow of Sigma Xi in recognition for his exemplary career investigating thermo-physical properties of order-disorder phenomena in soft-matter materials, colloids, and composites, and for his service and leadership within Sigma Xi.
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. Prof. Iannacchione has served as the secretary of WPI Chapter of Sigma Xi since 2004, when he won the chapter’s Outstanding Junior Faculty award and became a full Sigma Xi Lifetime member. He has also served on the Sigma Xi Committee of Nominations to recruit new officers for the national Sigma Xi office.
Throughout his career, Prof. Iannacchione has been recognized as a leading figure in soft condensed matter physics and in materials research. In addition to his scientific accomplishments and scholarly contributions, including approximately 100 peer-reviewed publications and six book chapters, he served as the department head of Physics at WPI for 10 years; as the director of the NSE and MPED programs at WPI; and as a program director, senior expert, and Division Director in the Division of Materials Research at the U.S. National Science Foundation. At WPI, he has played a transformative role in student development, mentoring 11 PhD, 14 MS, and more than 120 undergraduate physics students through thesis and major qualifying projects. He is currently serving on the External Advisor Committee to the National High-Magnetic Field Laboratory and as a section editor in the journal Entropy, along with his continued activity in Sigma Xi.
The 2026 cohort of Sigma Xi Fellows were recognized during the International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE), a virtual event held Nov. 7, 2026. This year’s cohort underscores the interdisciplinary strength of Sigma Xi’s membership, representing diverse fields in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and institutions across academia, government, and industry.
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.
