The Aarhus University Research Foundation awards prizes to five especially talented PhD graduates. On Thursday 4 June, five talented researchers each received DKK 50,000 in recognition of their research and research communication.

2020.06.09 | Ida Hammerich Nielson

The five PhD prize winners From left: Sarah Mygind (Arts), Ole Köhler-Forsberg (Health), Mikkel Slot Nielsen (NAT), Martin Thyrsgaard (Aarhus BSS) and Cecilie Hermansen (Tech). Photo: Anne Kring/graphics: Astrid Reitzel.

Five talented PhD graduates from Aarhus University – one from each faculty – received Aarhus University Research Foundation’s PhD prizes on Thursday 4 June.

 The prize-winners are:

Cecilie Hermansen (agroecology, Tech), whose new methods of analysis have made it easier to assess the drinking water contamination risks associated with pesticide use on a specific piece of land. Read more about Cecilie Hermansen

Ole Köhler-Forsberg (medicine, Health), who has demonstrated that the immune system can be deeply involved in mental illness that anti-inflammatory drugs may help treat depression. Read more about Ole Köhler-Forsberg

Sarah Mygind (comparative literature, Arts), who has contributed substantially to the development of theory and concepts for the study of the impact of digitalisation on literature and reading. Read more about Sarah Mygind

Mikkel Slot Nielsen (mathematics, Nat), who has solved some significant problems in the understanding of time series – and helped Vestas assess the risks involved in extending the life cycle of their wind turbines. Read more about Mikkel Slot Nielsen

Martin Thyrsgaard (economics, Aarhus BSS), who has developed methods for more accurately studying financial markets and for better understanding how those markets are organised. Read more about Martin Thyrsgaard

The PhD prizes are usually presented at the same time as the Rigmor and Carl Holst-Knudsen Award for Scientific Research at an event in the end of May. This event was cancelled due to COVID-19. Instead, the Award for Scientific Research will be presented in connection with Aarhus University's annual celebration on 11 September.

• Watch video portraits of the five PhD prize winners.
• Watch Rector Brian Bech Nielsen’s tribute speech to the prize winners (in danish).

Additional information: Henrik Dalgaard, Aarhus University Research Foundation: hd@auff.dk, 8715 3354/2382 3230

Facts about the PhD prizes

• The Aarhus University Research Foundation first awarded its annual PhD prizes in connection with the university’s 75th anniversary in 2003.
• The graduate schools at Aarhus University nominate a number of candidates based on recommendations from the faculties. The senior management team and the Research Foundation then make the final decision.
• All recipients completed their PhD in the previous year, in this case in 2019.