Research Laureates of 2025

Young Scholar Award

The Young Scholar Award is presented annually by the Belgian Mathematical Society to a young mathematician who excels in scientific research and maintains a strong connection to Belgium. 

Although Kevin Iván Piterman hails from Argentina – where he earned his PhD at the University of Buenos Aires in 2019 – he is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the VUB, funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO).

FWO Excellence Award LinkedIn

FWO: "As a recognition that groundbreaking research requires not only scientific talent but also exceptional human qualities and sustained commitment" 

Prof. Michel Van den Bergh (UHasselt/VUB): winner of the Dr. A. De Leeuw-Damry-Bourlart 2025 Excellence Award in Exact Sciences

Vanderschueren Prize  LinkedIn

Jonathan Baldan received the Vanderschueren Prize for his research aimed at stopping pancreatic cancer before it starts

Roger Van Geen Prize  LinkedIn

The six-yearly Roger Van Geen Prize has been awarded in 2024 to Prof. Dr. Jan Steyaert, in recognition of a remarkable academic career that combines scientific excellence with societal impact and the reputation of VUB. The official award ceremony was held on May 5th this year. 

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION LAUREATES OF 2025

Three Science Communications awards at Doctoral derby LinkedIn

In a packed Pilar Box, six doctoral researchers explained their scientific work to a non-expert audience in no less than 180 seconds. 

• Vincent Vangrunderbeek won the audience award for his enthusiastic presentation on outsmarting rust with artificial intelligence.
• Paulien Leemans won the jury award for the best presentation. She took the crowd into her witty story about “waxy molecules called very long chain fatty acids” with ease.
• Lynn De Mey convinced the jury with her written research summary, using the vivid metaphor of sand throughout her text on illuminating cancer cells. 

KVAB Annual Science Communication Awards  LinkedIn

Presented to researchers who have made a significant contribution to promoting scientific understanding and interest among the general public through recent initiatives.

• Andrei Covaci, Firass Kooli, Lesley De Cruz en Sara Top for the Instant City Climate Model with AI
  • for their accessible and interactive workshop ‘Instant city climate model with AI’
• Danielle Fernandes for City Confessions
  • A serious board game for bystander education on sexual violence
• Melissa Schuring for  ‘Say What?!’
  • Science communication in Project OMG on the use of English words in children's language
• Soetkin Vervust for TESTEREP.
  • For her science communication initiatives related to the TESTEREP project

6 PhD-Cup Finalists  LinkedIn

Six (former) VUB researchers were selected as finalists for the 10th edition of the Flemish PhD Cup 2025, organised by SciMingo. 

• Melissa Schuring (Linguistics): Melissa Schuring | Vlaamse PhD Cup
• Hannelore Stegen (Educational Sciences): Hannelore Stegen | Vlaamse PhD Cup
• Marlies Thys (Chemical Engineering): Marlies Thys | Vlaamse PhD Cup
• Lisa Van Hove (Psychology): Lisa Van Hove | Vlaamse PhD Cup
• Maximillian Weil (Engineering): Maximillian Weil | Vlaamse PhD Cup
• Marloes Hagenaars (Sociology – obtained her PhD elsewhere, now working at VUB): Marloes Hagenaars | Vlaamse PhD Cup

Melissa Schuring took second place.

ERC Proof of Concept LinkedIn

Professor Jan Steyaert (VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology) has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept Grant. Building on his 2023 ERC Advanced Grant, this grant will allow Steyaert to further develop promising immunotherapy leads and move them closer toward clinical development. 

GSK Vaccines Prize  LinkedIn

Professor Damya Laoui received the GSK Vaccines Prize 2025 during the annual formal session of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium. The prize recognises her research into innovative immunotherapies for cancer, in particular her work on dendritic cells.  

Evans Corrosion Award  LinkedIn

Professor Herman Terryn has been awarded the Evans Corrosion Award, an international award from the British Institute of Corrosion, in Newcastle (UK). The prize, often described as the “Nobel Prize for corrosion research”, has been awarded since 1976 to researchers who excel in fundamental and applied corrosion research worldwide.

The WATS Award LinkedIn

Lesley De Cruz became the new Brussels WATS ambassador. This award highlights Brussels-based women who not only excel in STEM but also inspire others to follow in their footsteps. The prize is awarded based on their potential as role models and their concrete plans to encourage girls and women to consider STEM studies or careers. 

Anfinsen Award  LinkedIn

Professor Jan Steyaert also won the prestigious Anfinsen Award from The Protein Society, which recognises groundbreaking contributions to protein science.