The FORTHEM Researcher Grand Prix final will be held on November 6 in Dijon, France – Follow the performance of JYU’s Jun Liu via livestream!
Liu was selected to represent University of Jyväskylä from among five doctoral researchers in the semi-final held on October 10 during the Business Networking Day. Liu received praise from the jury for her engaging presentation and meaningful research topic. She will be on stage together with other finalists from FORTHEM Alliance partner universities.
- The final will be held on Thursday, 6th November from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Finnish time.
- Follow the competition via livestream and cheer Jun Liu on to victory!
- Vote for your favourite contestant on Slido
Jun Liu, PhD student
Department: Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä
Supervisor: Varpu Marjomäki
Topic: Antimicrobial textiles
Introduction: In recent decades, serious outbreaks of viral infections - including SARS (2003), H1N1 influenza (2009), MERS (2012), and SARS-CoV-2 (2019) -as well as the catastrophic problem with antibiotic resistance have accelerated efforts to reduce the microbial load and infectivity on our surroundings. There is an urgent need for functionalized textiles to lower the risk of fomite transmission. Our recent publication showed that natural-based lignin extracts exhibited broad antimicrobial efficacy acting directly on pathogens. Spinnova, our collaborator, has produced fibers functionalized with promising antimicrobials. Our preliminary results indicate that some of the functionalized fibers demonstrate great broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy against viruses such as coronaviruses and enteroviruses but also bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. Soon, the antimicrobial efficacy and mechanisms of action will be evaluated also for the non-woven fabrics produced by the functionalized fibers. This research will promote technology for antimicrobial applications in textiles intended for everyday use.
Meet the 2025 Contestants:
| University | Name | Domain | Title | Research Thesis |
| University of Jyväskylä | Jun Liu | Virology | Antimicrobial Textiles | Antimicrobial Mechanisms on Functionalized Textile Materials |
| University of Latvia | Velga Polinska | Linguistics | Use and importance of easy-to-read language in society | Easy Language in the System of Latvian Varieties |
| University of Agder + Institute of Marine Research | Johanna Bjånes Marcussen | Marine biology/Coastal ecology | How many lobsters do recreational fishers actually take home? | Addressing data gaps in stock assessments: Integrating recreational fisheries in sustainable lobster management |
| University of Opole | Michał Petka | Theology | When Vestments Speak | Episcopal Pontificals as Prophetic Signs for the Liturgy of the 21st Century |
| Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu | Ilina Mihai | Mathematics | Intersection of numerical analysis, operator theory, and biomedical applications (developing efficient computational methods to detect and analyze calcium | Approximation and shape preservation properties |
| University of Palermo | Dario De Caro | Chemical, Environmental, Biomedical, Hydraulic and Materials Engineering | Sustainable agriculture from a perspective beyond the human eyes | Irrigation management based on innovative smart technologies, at different spatial scales, in Mediterranean areas |
| University of Valencia | Mar Luna Manteca | Biodiversity and evolutionary science | Recognizing What Already Exists: Local Communities’ Silent Battle for Biodiversity Conservation | Adoption of community conservation initiatives in Spain |
| Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz | Marina Lehmann | Book Studies | Of Bookworms and Their Counterparts | Cultural Participation of Non-Readers in Germany and Their Significance for the Book Market |
| University Bourgogne Europe | Francesca Cantoni | Psychology of music | The Hidden Bridge Between Music and Language | Novel Musical Approaches to Beat Perception, Production, and Reward Assessment in Children |
