Short contributions to the significance of academic awards
QUICK QUESTION: What do the awards you’ve received mean to you?
Regardless of the stage of one's research career, academic awards have an impact on one’s future path. We asked six researchers about the prizes they have received, what they mean, and how they affected their future.
Dr Halil Emre Uçar, Faculty of Islamic Theology
I migrated to Germany when I was six years old and could not even speak German. And now, I recently had the honour of receiving the Karl Arnold Prize from the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts. It honours all the years in between, which were associated with high hurdles. As a child of working-class parents, the path to a doctorate and into science was by no means predetermined. The prize therefore makes me proud. It recognises an academic achievement that makes frequently overlooked phenomena visible. The fact that my research is now receiving this recognition puts me in a stronger position, especially with a view to critical political developments. The prize carries particular weight, especially at the beginning of my postdoc phase. It makes my work visible, strengthens my scientific profile and can open doors for new collaborations. For me, it is a confirmation that I am producing added value in science.
Dr Berit Hummel, Institute of Art History
A doctoral thesis is first and foremost a work of qualification – and at the same time, it marks one’s initial scientific position. In the humanities, this phase of intensive work is occasionally accompanied by doubts about the path taken. Dissertation prizes can have a reinforcing effect here and lead to publication opportunities and funding for follow-up projects. For me, the dissertation prize from the Rectorate of the University of Münster helped me very concretely, in that I used the prize money to finance the editing and visuals for the publication of my doctoral thesis in book form. These important areas of the publication process – which are essential for art historical work in the latter case – are usually not covered by printing cost grants. In this way, the prize not only honoured my work but enabled its publication in a form it deserves. For this, I am very grateful.
Prof Dr Benjamin Bomfleur, Institute of Geology and Palaeontology
Admission to the Emmy Noether Programme was of decisive importance for my academic career. I experienced the programme as optimally structured to improve one’s appointability and the chances of securing a professorship. It creates space and opportunities to gain further expertise essential for appointment beyond the establishment of an independent scientific profile, including teaching experience, team leadership and doctoral supervision. Beyond these general points, I am personally grateful for the consistently uncomplicated and friendly exchange with the German Research Foundation (DFG), as well as for their great flexibility, especially when the project took unforeseen turns. This was the only way I could take the opportunity to move from the role of funding recipient to my current position as a professor.
Asst Prof Dr Asmaa El Maaroufi, Faculty of Islamic Theology
What makes being a member of the Young Academy so special to me are the encounters with people from different disciplines who are in a similar career phase. Together, we work on questions that move us scientifically and socially, and we organise events for this purpose. At the same time, we share our professional experiences, speak openly about the challenges of academic careers and learn from one another. Additionally, the annual scholarship of 10,000 euros offers me financial freedom to pursue my own projects. Furthermore, working in the Academy gives me insight into the tasks of scientific academies and into collaborations beyond my own university. For me, my induction into the Academy is not only a recognition of my work, but also an opportunity to help shape science across disciplinary and university boundaries.
Jana Haack, Department of Medieval and Modern Ecclesiastical History
Science communication is a central component of excellent research. However, even though the number of awards is growing, established professors often loom large in the spotlight. Those who develop and implement the formats often remain invisible. Yet science communication is almost always about teamwork. That’s why Dr Barbara Schüler and I were so delighted to receive the "wissen.kommuniziert-Preis" for our work on the "Asking the Pope for Help" project. Not only does it honour the communication formats but also the people behind them. It is crucial because team achievements deserve recognition – and must become visible. For me, the award is both confirmation and a tailwind. It strengthens self-confidence, validates one's work and can help when applying for third-party funding. And it is a strong signal when one's own university recognises the achievement that usually takes place behind the scenes.
Prof Dr Ryan Gilmour, Institute of Organic Chemistry
ERC grants are a win for everyone: these prestigious awards elevate the group, the university, the state and the country. Since joining the University in 2013, I have been fortunate enough to have received three ERC grants, and this would not have been possible without a fantastic research team and the world-class infrastructure here in Münster. Each one of these grants represents the beginning of a new research direction in my group. I received an ERC Starting Grant in 2013 and this was not only a catalyst for my own research, but also a bridge to medicine. In 2018 my group was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant to work on sustainable catalysis-based fluorination. Fluorinated molecules are socio-economically important and are found in drugs, agrochemicals and smart materials. However, many are persistent in the environment (so-called PFAS) and so alternatives are needed. The success of the research supported by the ERC Consolidator Grant led to an ERC Proof of Concept Grant in 2024, and this has provided a foundation to explore translational aspects of our basic research.
These guest contributions appeared in the University newspaper wissen|leben, No. 7, 11 November 2026.