Funding from the Volkswagen Foundation and the Young Academy
TWIST is one of “Best Research Environment 2026”
- von Cathrin Becker
- 07.07.2026
Those who foster creativity, support early-career researchers, and embody an open, inclusive research culture can hope to be recognized as the “Best Research Environment.” With this award, the Volkswagen Foundation and the Young Academy honor teams that create outstanding conditions for successful research. This year, the UDE is among the winners: The “TWIST – Topological Whirls In SpinTronics” research group led by Prof. Dr. Karin Everschor-Sitte will receive a prize of 10,000 euros.
A good research environment is a key prerequisite for scientific excellence. With this competition, The Young Academy and the Volkswagen Foundation are highlighting—for the second time—how research teams create fair, inspiring, and performance-enhancing working conditions. Prof. Dr. Karin Everschor-Sitte’s team was initially among the 15 groups on the shortlist and is now one of five teams to receive the award and prize money. “We are very pleased to be recognized for the strong research culture in our team, because scientific quality stands or falls with respectful collaboration, open communication, and reliable support within the team,” said Kübra Kalkan and Janine Graser, who represented the team during the application process and at the award ceremony in Berlin. The team plans to use the prize money to further develop the TWIST spirit and promote it to the wider public, for example through workshops or high-profile events.
The TWIST Research Group at UDE combines fundamental research with forward-looking questions. The group investigates topological magnetic structures such as skyrmions and hopfions. These tiny magnetic objects could form the basis for novel, highly energy-efficient computing concepts in the future. In addition, the team uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to better understand complex physical systems and to improve materials in targeted ways. The team also applies its methodological expertise in an interdisciplinary manner, for example, to better analyze medical data. Innovation that makes a difference: for the environment, for industry, and for patients.
Pictured (from left to right): Kübra Kalkan and Janine Graser accept the award on behalf of the TWIST research group.
Further Information:
https://www.uni-due.de/physik/twist/home.php