Moritz Riede of the TU Dresden is Young Researcher of the Year 2011

Dr. Moritz Riede, 34, has been awarded the 2011 academics prize for Young Researcher of the Year. Beside his research work in the field of renewable energies and his teaching activities, he impressed the jury with his exceptional engagement with the issue of the scientist's responsibilities within society. He has been involved since 1999 with the International Student / Young Pugwash (ISYP) conferences and joined with other students to revive Germany's Student Pugwash.

After spending four years studying physics at the University of Cambridge, Moritz Riede obtained his PhD from the University of Konstanz for work at the Fraunhofer Institut for Solar Energy Systems in Freiburg. Since 2007 he has headed the organic solar cell group, currently comprising over 30 people, at the Institute for Applied Photophysics (IAPP) of the Technical University of Dreseden. In 2010 he spent six months as a visiting scholar at Stanford University in California.

Further awards

In addition to Moritz Riede, five other scientists were nominated for the academics prize for Best Young Researcher of the Year:

• Dr. Michaela Geierhos (LMU Munich),
• Dr. Stefan Kozielski (Aachen University),
• Dr. Tanja Gabriele Baudson (Trier University),
• Dr. Thiemo Breyer (Heidelberg / Freiburg University), sowie
• Dr. Kerstin M. Ewen (Saarland University).

About the academics award

Since 2007, the No. 1 website for jobs in higher education and research and development in Germany, Austria and Switzerland has been honouring one young researcher each year who has had a lasting positive impact on research or higher education through outstanding commitment, visionary ideas or exemplary action.

The academics Young Researcher Award is presented to an individual who is a member of a higher education institution or university-affiliated research institute. The competition is open to young reasearchers of all disciplines up to the age of 35.

Awards ceremony

The academics prize will be officially presented on 11 April 2011 in Potsdam, together with the presentation of the "Professor of the Year" Award to Prof. Harald Lesch by the DHV.

Jury

The jury consists of:

• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jutta Binder-Hobbach, Vice-President of the Worms University of Applied Sciences
• Prof. Dr. Daniela Wawra, Passau University, Vice-President of the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Bradtke, HAW Hamburg
• Prof. Dr. Werner Nau, Jacobs University Bremen
• Prof. Dr. Mummendey, Prorector Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

Young Researcher of the Year 2010

Last year, the prize for "Young Researcher of the Year" was awarded to Dr. Monika Golas of Aarhus University. Concurrently with her degree in Human Biology Monika Golas took a degree in Medicine, and completed both courses with outstanding grades within the standard period of study. Alongside her degree course in Medicine, she completed a doctorate in Biochemistry, which was granted "summa cum laude", in less than four years.

In addition to Golas's outstanding scientific achievements, the jury particularly highlighted her didactic talent and her commitment as a lecturer. Because the young university teacher noticed that her students had very different levels of skill in operating a microscope, she is developing an e-learning program that allows them to also acquire and improve their microscope skills outside the university.

In addition to Moritz Riede, five other scientists were nominated:
Dr. Christian Hackenberger (FU Berlin), Dr. Franz Huber (Konstanz University), Dr. Isabel Lindner (Cologne University) and Dr. Andreas Schmidt (Berkeley, Singapur and Cologne University).

Young Researcher of the Year 2009

In 2009 the prize for "Young Researcher of the Year" was awarded to Dr. rer. pol. Julia Heidemann of Augsburg University.

Julia Heidemann completed her doctorate, granted "summa cum laude", on the subject of "Value-oriented Customer Relationship Management" at the University of Augsburg in only two and a half years. She works as a PostDoc at Prof. Dr. Hans Ulrich Buhl's Chair of Information Systems Engineering and Financial Management.

In addition to Heidemann's outstanding achievements in research, the jury highlighted her commitment to supporting young students by acting as a coach on scientific publications or as a juror on the Germany-wide ideas competition "Generation-D", among other things. Julia Heidemann was also active in promoting the advancement of women through her participation in the lecture series "Successful Women in Leadership Positions".

Three other young researchers were also commended:
Prof. Dr. phil. habil. Eva Traut-Mattausch (Salzburg University, LMU), Prof. Dr. Tobias Nef (Catholic University of America, ETH Zürich), Dr. Cornelia M. Keck (FH Kaiserslautern, FU Berlin).