Over 50 University of Tartu researchers among nominees for Estonian national research awards
The National Research Awards Committee has approved the following researchers from the University of Tartu as nominees for this year’s research awards.
The nominees for the lifetime achievement award for long-term excellence in research and development are Professor emeritus of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Visiting Professor at the Institute of Psychology Talis Bachmann, Professor of Cardiology, Academician Jaan Eha, and Professor emeritus of the Faculty of Medicine Aleksandr Žarkovski.
Annual awards for the best research or research cycles completed and published in the previous four years are issued in eight fields of research. The candidates for the annual award in the field of natural sciences are
- Associate Professor of Molecular Biology Ilona Faustova (“Linear motifs and their combinations in cell cycle kinase regulation”),
- Professor of Algebra Valdis Laan (“Semigroups, rings and categories”),
- Research Fellow in Conservation Biology Kadri Runnel (“Development of synthetic conservation biology using DNA-based methods”),
- Professor of Evolutionary Plant Ecology Marina Semtšenko (“Diversity of plant-soil organism interactions and their role in ecosystem functioning”),
- Professor in Developmental Biology Osamu Shimmi (“Dynamic cell-to-cell communication and signalling in organ formation”),
- Professor of Materials Technology Veronika Zadin and Associate Professor of Multi-Scale Simulations Andreas Kyritsakis (“High electric field effect on nanoscale metals”),
- Professor in Colloidal and Environmental Chemistry Kaido Tammeveski, Associate Professor in Colloidal and Environmental Chemistry Ave Sarapuu, Research Fellows in Colloidal and Environmental Chemistry Jaana Lilloja and Marek Mooste, and former Visiting Researcher Srinu Akula (“Novel non-platinum catalysts for electrochemical energy technology applications”),
- Associate Professor in Climate Physics Velle Toll, Research Fellows in Climate Physics Hannes Keernik and Heido Trofimov, Specialist in Climate Physics Jorma Rahu, Professor of Climate Science Piia Post, and Engineer Tanel Voormansik (“Detection of cloud glaciation due to anthropogenic air pollution”).
In the field of engineering and technology, the candidates are
- Professor of Cryptography Helger Lipmaa (“Zero-knowledge proofs: from theory to practice”) and
- Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry Lauri Vares and Professor of Polymer Technology at Lund University Patric Jannasch (“Low-environmental-impact high-performance polymers from wood raw material”).
The candidates in the field of medical and health sciences are
- Professor of Human Genetics, Academician Maris Laan and Professor in Andrology Margus Punab (“Research to discover the genetic causes of male infertility”),
- Professor of Microbiomics Elin Org, Research Fellow in Microbiomics Kreete Lüll, Research Fellow in Statistical Metagenomics Oliver Aasmets and Microbiome Specialist Kertu Liis Krigul (“Gut microbiome and health relations – new perspectives in health research”),
- Professor in Pharmacognosy Ain Raal, Junior Lecturer in Pharmacognosy Janne Sepp, Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Jyrki Tapio Heinämäki and Visiting Professor Oleh Koshovyi (“Phytochemical, pharmacological and technological studies of plant extracts and natural bioactive substances to enhance their efficacy”), and
- Professor in Neurology Pille Taba (“Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease: triggers, markers and determinants”).
The candidates for the award in the field of Social Sciences are
- Professor of Personality and Social Psychology René Mõttus (“Advanced answers to the Big Questions in personality psychology”) and
- Professor in Sociology of Risk and Resilience Kati Orru and Associate Professor of Communication Studies Sten Hansson (“Vulnerability in emergencies: analysis and solutions”).
In the field of humanities and the arts, the candidates are
- Professor of Modern History Mati Laur (“Studies of the history of Estonia and neighbouring countries in the early modern period”),
- Professor emerita Helle Metslang, Associate Professor of Estonian Language Külli Habicht, Research Fellow in Spoken Language and Conversation Analysis Tiit Hennoste, Associate Professor emerita Reet Kasik, Associate Professor of Estonian Phonetics Pire Teras, Associate Professor of Phonetics and Swedish Language Eva Liina Asu-Garcia, Professor of Modern Estonian Language Liina Lindström, Associate Professor of Estonian Phonetics Pärtel Lippus, Professor of General Linguistics Renate Pajusalu, Lecturer in Estonian Language Helen Plado, Research Fellow in Spoken Language Andriela Rääbis, Associate Professor of General Linguistics Ann Veismann and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of the Estonian Language Annika Viht (“Estonian grammar”), and
- Associate Professor in History in Geography Erki Tammiksaar (“The first 100 years of the Estonian-language university in Tartu”).
Professor of Information Systems Marlon Dumas (“High-precision Business Process Simulation Model”) is the nominee for the award for a scientific discovery impacting the paradigm and world view of the respective scientific field or pioneering a new field of science, or an invention or research and development based on a scientific discovery that has led to an innovative product with a significant socio-economic impact.
The Government of Estonia will announce the recipients of the awards at the beginning of February, and the awards will be presented on 19 February at the Estonian Statehood House. This year, the national research awards will be issued for the 35th time.
See all the national research award nominees on the website of the Estonian Academy of Sciences (in Estonian).
Nominations for the award may be submitted to the committee by the research councils of universities and positively evaluated research and development institutions, academicians of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, the council of Estonian Young Academy of Sciences, the Estonian Employers’ Confederation, the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Estonian Service Industry Association.
