Research PrizesThe Lautenschläger Research Prize
Prize Winner 2020: Prof. Dr Hannah Monyer
Heidelberg neurobiologist Prof. Dr Hannah Monyer, an internationally renowned expert in the field of brain research, is being honoured with the 2020 Lautenschläger Research Prize. The prize is endowed with 250,000 euros. Prof. Monyer’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms that lead to synchronous neural network activities and support cognitive processes such as learning and remembering. The award sponsor and Honorary Senator at Ruperto Carola, Dr h.c. Manfred Lautenschläger: “In this field, Hannah Monyer combines intelligent questions with highly innovative experimental approaches and does not shy away from expanding beyond the boundaries of her own discipline to uncover the fundamental secrets of neural networks. She can rightly be called a pioneer of modern systemic neuro and behavioural science anchored in molecular biology.”
The Lautenschläger Research Prize for Junior Researchers
The Lautenschläger Research Prize for Junior Reseachers is endowed with 25,000 euros and is intended to promote excellent young researchers in the long term. The prize is awarded to habilitants, junior research group leaders and junior professors who can demonstrate outstanding scientific achievements and particularly innovative research approaches. The prize money is intended to support young researchers in their personal scientific development and their research activities.
Prize winner 2020: Dr Felix Joos
Dr Felix Joos, who is conducting groundbreaking research in theoretical computer science, joined Heidelberg University’s Institute for Computer Science in March this year as a Junior Professor. Since 2019, Prof. Joos has headed a research group that is also funded by the Emmy Noether Programme of the German Research Foundation. He has already published numerous articles with cooperation partners from all over the world. The award sponsor Manfred Lautenschläger honours Felix Joos as “an enormously productive young researcher who with creativity, self-determination, and technical flexibility is tackling major questions in theoretical computer science at the intersection of discrete mathematics, graph theory, and combinatorics”.
Three essentials for a research prize: a renowned university, a generously endowed award and a donor
The Lautenschläger Research Prize of Heidelberg University dates from 2001 and is awarded to outstanding scientists or scholars actively engaged in research. It is endowed with 250,000 euros. The award is designed to support recipients in the realisation of incipient or ongoing research projects and more especially to encourage international cooperation in the relevant field and the involvement of upcoming generations of scholars and scientists in those projects.
Recipients of the Prize will be either internationally respected members of Heidelberg University itself or researchers from elsewhere with a distinctive and intensive record of academic collaboration with the University.
Scientists and scholars from all disciplines are eligible for the Prize, whether they are active in the sciences and medicine, the arts and humanities or the social sciences. In terms of eligibility, no distinction is made between application-oriented and basic research.
Quotes
Opening Remarks
"Cutting-edge international research at Heidelberg University or in cooperation with researchers at Ruperto Carola is recognised through the renowned Lautenschläger Research Prize, which is endowed with 250,000 euros. An interdisciplinary board of internationally networked researchers ensures that the selected endeavours are of the highest quality. The prize is open to researchers from all disciplines, and hence well suited to Heidelberg University’s profile as a comprehensive university of excellence. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the sponsor of this award, our Honorary Senator Dr. h. c. Manfred Lautenschläger."
Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Bernhard Eitel
The Donor
"Top-quality research is costly, scientists and scholars invest time and know-how, the community profits from it. I want to support this process of give and take to the tune of a quarter of a million euros. We can draw a parallel to the way things work in private enterprise. Someone has a good idea and the courage to branch out on his own. Give him financial support and he’ll know exactly what to do with it. I imagine things are much the same for a scholar or scientist. He may be, say, a quarter of the way to completing a research project. If he gets the Prize, it will be a very welcome influx of funds. Or someone may hit on some exciting findings during his routine research work and need extra money to follow the matter up."
Dr h.c. Manfred Lautenschläger
About Manfred Lautenschläger
Manfred Lautenschläger, born in Karlsruhe in 1938, is chairman of the supervisory board of MLP-AG, Heidelberg. His special affinities with this city and its University date back to his student days, part of which he spent in Heidelberg. In 1998 he was made an Honorary Senator of Heidelberg University. His aim in donating this award is to encourage research and help provide the financial resources it requires.
