Recipients of University of Tartu annual awards for 2025 have been announced

Ahead of the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, the University of Tartu announced the recipients of the contribution to society award, research award, language award and the teaching staff of the year awards for 2025. The awards will be presented at the ceremony marking the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia in the university assembly hall on 20 February at 12:00.

According to Academic Secretary Tõnis Karki, the achievements recognised with the annual awards for 2025 are characterised by their strong scientific foundations. “The recipients of the awards have worked for the benefit of the entire society, offering new knowledge and treatment possibilities, and preserving the development of knowledge over time,” Karki said.

The contribution to society award is granted for creating the Estonian Cancer Network.

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The Estonian Cancer Network (ESTCAN) enables Estonia’s cancer prevention and treatment to function as a single, coherent system. The network brings together medical, research and educational institutions in the field of cancer, as well as patient organisations, and facilitates participation in international projects to improve the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer in Estonia. It also plays an important role in international research and development activities that support the decentralised sharing and use of cancer data to integrate different data systems and enhance effective collaboration.

The award goes to the team of the Estonian Cancer Network: its head Kadi-Liis Veiman, Clinical Lead Rille Pihlak, Head of Personalised Medicine in Oncology Anni Lepland, Head of Community Relations Mari-Leen Pärn, Head of AI and Data Strategy Jayden Khakurel, Head of Data and Digital Technologies Anne-Mari Anton Willmore, Head of Communication Evelin Kostabi, Head of Finance Kerli Meister, and Project Manager Julia Uusna.

Read more about the contribution to society award on the university webpage.

The research award is granted for discovering genetic mechanisms affecting female reproductive health.

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The work of the research team led by Professor Triin Laisk in clarifying the molecular mechanisms underlying women’s health disorders illustrating the potential of genetic studies for better understanding women’s health. The results of the research, based on large-scale genome-wide association studies, make it possible to move from a symptom-based approach in treating women’s health disorders towards understanding the biological causes of diseases and adopting a more holistic view of women’s health, as well as developing more precise prevention and treatment options.

The recipients of the award are Professor of Genomic Epidemiology Triin Laisk, Professor in Bioinformatics Reedik Mägi, Junior Research Fellows in Genomics Jelisaveta Džigurski and Valentina Rukins, and Specialist Fanny-Dhelia Pajuste.

Read more about the research award on the university webpage.

The language award is given to an exhibition of Estonian scientific literature and textbooks.

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University of Tartu Library’s exhibition “Teaching creates knowledge. From Estonian lecture notes to academic textbooks” traced the development of Estonian-language study materials from early handwritten lecture notes and the first university textbooks to modern academic publications. More than 60 academic staff members contributed to assembling the exhibition, which gave a comprehensive overview of how the Estonian language of science and teaching has evolved and endured across several generations.

The award goes to the University of Tartu Library exhibition team: Librarian Marianne Marlene Tiik, Head of the Department of the Cultural Environment Lilian Mengel, Librarian Katri Armolik, Subject Librarian Signe Bachmann, Head of the Department of Collections Development Kristhel Haak, Librarian Jelena Ivanova, Librarian Avo Kartul, Senior Specialist of Interlibrary Loan Agnes Kivi, Librarian Marika Liivamägi, Head of the Music Department Kaire Maimets, Subject Librarian Pille Naggel, Subject Librarian Ivika Pall, Librarian Svea Pärsimägi, Editor Kaarina Rein, Information Literacy Coordinator and Subject Librarian Vilve Seiler, Designer Eliise Selisaar, Data Librarian Tiiu Tarkpea, Head of the Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books Monika Teemus, and Subject Librarians Eda-Riin Tuuling and Elo Tõnisoo.

Read more about the language award on the university webpage.

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The University of Tartu teaching staff of the year award at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities goes to Teacher in Finnish Language and Culture Margit Kuusk, at the Faculty of Social Sciences, to Junior Lecturer in Teacher Education Pihel Hunt, at the Faculty of Medicine, to Associate Professor in Human Physiology Jana Kivastik and at the Faculty of Science and Technology, to Junior Research Fellow in Computer Engineering Renno Raudmäe.

The recipients of the teaching staff of the year award are selected by the evaluation committee of the University of Tartu Student Union based on students’ proposals. In 2025, 100 teaching staff members were nominated for the title. Read more about the recipients of the teaching staff of the year award on the university webpage.

The University of Tartu has issued annual awards since 2021.