Meet the Finalists of the 2025 Fogh-Nielsen Competition
The annual PhD Day is right around the corner, and as always one of the most anticipated parts of the program is the Fogh-Nielsen Competition. Here, three of our brightest PhD students will compete on their research as well as their presentation skills in competition for a share of the DKK 125,000 prize.
On Friday 17 January, the Graduate School of Health will once again host the PhD Day at the Lakeside Lecture Halls – and no PhD Day would be complete without our faculty’s very own researcher showdown.
The Fogh-Nielsen Competition features three talented PhD students, each of whom strive to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in modern healthcare. The competition takes place at 9.50 in the Per Kirkeby Auditorium.
Watch the three finalists share a preview of their fascinating projects in their short videos below.
Kirsten Marie Woolpert – Understanding adherence to breast cancer treatment
For young women facing breast cancer, long-term endocrine therapy can be lifesaving -but also challenging. Kirsten Marie Woolpert, epidemiologist from the Department of Clinical Medicine, investigates the social, clinical, and genetic factors influencing adherence to this crucial treatment. Her research aims to identify women at risk of discontinuing therapy and inform interventions to improve outcomes.
Martin Qvist Rasmussen – Targeting Mesothelioma with an antibody drug conjugate
Mesothelioma is a cancer type linked to asbestos exposure, and current treatment options offer limited hope. Martin Qvist Rasmussen from the Department of Biomedicine is paving the way for a new therapy that could change the prognosis for patients. His work focuses on developing an antibody-drug conjugate that seeks out and destroys cancer cells with precision.
Anne Kraushaar Martensen – Stimulating recovery after surgery
Postoperative ileus (POI), a common complication after abdominal surgery, leaves patients waiting for their bowels to recover – a strenuous process that can take days or even weeks. Anne Kraushaar Martensen from the Department of Clinical Medicine is exploring whether a neurostimulator, akin to a pacemaker, could accelerate bowel recovery. Her innovative research might lead to a new treatment for this challenging and costly condition.
Join us at PhD Day 2025
Everyone is welcome at the PhD Day, and the Fogh-Nielsen competition is just one highlight of the day, which also features keynotes from Professor Jens Juul Holst and Professor Aasa Feragen. In addition, over 400 PhD and research year students will present their work along the course of the event.
It all culminates in a dinner party with award ceremonies for both the JCD Prize for the PhD supervisor of the year and the 3R Prize to a PhD student who has worked on implementing more humane methods in animal testing.
For more information, visit the PhD Day website.
Or see the full programme book for the event.
Contact
PhD administrator Helene Hallas
Aarhus University, Health Administrative Centre – Health PhD Administration
Phone: 93 50 82 09
Mail: heha@au.dk