On 23 October 2025, the FNR held the 17th edition of the FNR Awards. In the presence of Stéphanie Obertin, Minister for Research and Higher Education and over 200 people, five awards were presented across four categories. Full coverage to follow.
Outstanding PhD Thesis
Dr. Florian Felten received the Outstanding PhD Thesis award for his thesis “Multi-Objective Reinforcement Learning”. In the research, conducted at the University of Luxembourg’s SnT, Felten worked on helping AI to understand and navigate compromises. The research was part of a project focused on automatically generating computer programmes to control swarms of drones.
Dr. Jill Kries received the Outstanding PhD Thesis award for her thesis “Unravelling speech processing mechanisms in aphasia via EEG-based neural tracking and behavioral measures”. In the research, conducted at KU Leuven, Kries combined neuroscience and linguistic theory to model how the brain processes natural spoken language.
Outstanding Scientific Achievement
Prof Dr. Andreas Fickers (C2DH), Associate Professor Sonja Kmec (University of Luxembourg) and Prof Dr. Dietmar Hüser (Saarbrücken University) received the Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award for their work on “Transnational popular culture – Europe in the long 1960s.” Across over a dozen projects, the team showed that popular culture circulates across linguistic and cultural barriers. Their approach set new standards for historical research into these complex processes.
Outstanding Promotion of Science to the Public
Juliette Pertuy, Bo Byloos, Maia Haas, Selima Malsagova & Maud Marocki (Luxembourg Space Agency), received the Outstanding Promotion of Science to the Public Award for their outreach activity “Astronaut For a Day Luxembourg”.
Outstanding Mentor
Prof Christos Koulovatianos (University of Luxembourg) received the Outstanding Mentor award. Nominated by his team he was recognised for his exceptional guidance and support.