Each year, the Minister for Higher Education and Science honours five of Denmark’s top researchers by awarding them Elite Research Prizes. The aim of these awards is to create awareness about elite research in Denmark and help increase public awareness of Danish researchers’ important contribution to science.

This year, two researchers form Aarhus University have been awarded Elite Research Prizes:

Peter Teglberg Madsen, professor at the Department of Bioscience and Niels Jessen, professor at the Department of Clinical Medicine.

Peter Teglberg Madsen conducts research on the sensory physiology of animals with a particular focus on marine animals’ use of sound and the effects of noise on the marine environment. He has developed a piece of sophisticated measuring equipment that can be attached directly to a whale’s skin with suction discs. This has resulted in a unique form of research which makes it possible to combine physiological measurements with behavioural studies of the animals during their natural dives in the oceans.

• Read portrait of Peter Teglberg Madsen (in Danish)

Niels Jessen conducts his research on type 2 diabetes, which is a serious problem in relation to both clinical and public health. Niels Jessen has conducted a number of studies that have shed light on the role of fatty tissue and muscles in the development of diabetes. He has exposed the basic mechanics of insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent sugar absorption in the tissues, including how physical activity affects the effects of insulin.

• Read portrait of Niels Jessen (in Danish)

The Elite Research Prize includes a cash prize of DKK 1.2 million. DKK 200,000 is a personal award of merit, while DKK 1,000,000 is intended for research activities.

Elite Research Travel Grants for talented PhD students
Twenty Elite Research Travel Grants were also awarded to promising research talents at the conference. An Elite Research Travel Grant includes a cash prize of DKK 200,000 which must be used for an extended period of research abroad in a strong international research environment.

Three of this year’s recipients are from Aarhus University:

• Kasper Glerup Lauridsen, Institut for Klinisk Medicin
• Anne Maj van der Velden, Institut for Klinisk Medicin
• Kristian Knakkergaard Nielsen, Institut for Fysik og Astronomi

In addition to the minister for higher education and science, the conference was attended by personally invited award winners, researchers and representatives of the Danish research community.

Previous recipients of the Elite Research Prize at Aarhus University include Hanne Christine Bertram, professor at the Department of Food Science, Liv Hornekær, associate professor of Physics, and Rubina Raja, professor of archaeology.

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