The SAS Young Researchers Competition Has Its Winners
On Thursday, June 4, 2026, young scientists under 35 gathered in the SAS auditorium on Watsonova Street in Košice. As part of the traditional seminar, they presented the topics and results of the projects with which they entered this year’s competition. The event later continued with an evening programme at the House of Arts, where the award ceremony was combined with the concert Young to Young – Artists to Scientists.
The professional seminar once again demonstrated the wide range of research pursued by the emerging generation of scientists at the Slovak Academy of Sciences. In their presentations, the laureates introduced the work to which they dedicate their time and energy. Awards were presented in three scientific divisions:
Division of Inanimate Sciences
1st Prize
RNDr. Ľubomíra Regeciová, PhD., Institute of Experimental Physics SAS
Frustrated Magnetism in Spin-Electron Models
2nd–3rd Prize
Jaromír Klarák, Institute of Informatics SAS
Research and Development of Multimodal and Hybrid Models
Mgr. Tomáš Goga, PhD.
Satellite Data in the Assessment of Land Abandonment and Environmental Interventions
Division of Life Sciences
1st Prize
Adam Kantor, Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre SAS
Study of Plant Evolution in Mountain Ecosystems Using an Integrative Approach
2nd Prize
Dominik Šťastný, Centre of Biosciences SAS
Lipid Transfer Proteins: From Yeast to Human Parasites
3rd Prize
Mária Pacalajová, Biomedical Research Center SAS
New Therapeutic Options for Aggressive Pancreatic Malignancies
Honourable Mentions
Natália Udvorková, Biomedical Research Center SAS
Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) as a Promising Therapeutic Strategy for Refractory Germ Cell Tumours
Denisa Mihalj, Biomedical Research Center SAS
Changes in the GABAergic System and Neuronal Morphology During Development in Experimental Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Division of Social Sciences
1st Prize
Jakub Šrol, Centre for Social and Psychological Sciences SAS
Psychological Barriers to Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviour
2nd–3rd Prize
Denis Kazankov, Institute of Philosophy SAS
Conceptual Ethics: From the Function of Concepts to Their Elimination
Nikola Kallová, Institute for Social Communication Research SAS
Learning from Romantic Relationships
Honourable Mention
Mgr. Martin Posch, PhD.
From Cultural Diplomacy to Intelligence Operations: Forms of Resistance in Central Europe
The evening programme featured music by the Košice State Philharmonic. Under the baton of Norwegian conductor Eivind Gullberg Jensen, the orchestra presented a programme featuring two major works. Cellist Johannes Moser appeared as the soloist, performing Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85. The concert concluded with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 27.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of diplomas by the President of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Martin Venhart. In his address, he praised the work of his young colleagues and emphasised the continually rising quality of their research:
“It is truly a very pleasant occasion in academic life that, in a few moments, we will present awards to the winners of the Young Scientists Competition. I am delighted that the standard of this competition continues to grow year after year, providing a strong foundation for the future success of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, both in the near term and in the years to come.”
Prepared by: Martin Ferenc
Photo: Martin Ferenc