The 2026 Josef Krainer Science Awards were presented on 16 March during a ceremony at the Meerscheinschlössl at the University of Graz.
, a researcher at the Medical University of Graz, has received one of the 2026 Josef Krainer Prizes. The molecular microbiologist works at the .
The 2026 Josef Krainer Recognition Awards went to young scientists at an advanced stage of their careers who have already demonstrated their research achievements (for example, through a habilitation). This recognition for their outstanding achievements was awarded to: Anita Emmerstorfer-Augustin (Molecular Biotechnology); Eva Gerold (Metallurgy); Georg Jger (Environmental Systems Sciences); and Lisa Paleczek (Educational Science).
The 2026 Josef Krainer Promotion Awards were presented to young talents to encourage them to further advance their academic careers. The following early-career researchers received this award for their excellent achievements: Charlotte Cui (Materials Science); Johanna Dabernig-Heinz (Molecular Microbiology); Markus Fasching (Engineering); Andreas Joham (Law); Eva Krisper (Jazz and Popular Music Research); Claudia Laštro (Political Science); Stefan Purkhart (Physics); and Malina Seyffertitz (Materials Science).
The awards honour outstanding academics who, through their work, embody the values championed by Governor Josef Krainer senior (Governor from 1948 until his death in 1971): cosmopolitanism, responsibility, creative courage and deep roots in their Styrian homeland. In his laudatory speech, President Gerald Schöpfer, Chairman of the “Josef Krainer – Steirisches Gedenkwerk”, also highlighted these values in the breadth and diversity of the laureates’ careers and emphasised that research is becoming increasingly “feminised”, as evidenced by the fact that eight of the twelve prizes went to women this time.
About the Josef Krainer Prizes
The Josef Krainer Science Prizes are awarded around the time of the Styrian public holiday in memory of the work of the great Styrian Governor Josef Krainer senior, with the aim of promoting the creative and independent spirit – inextricably linked to him – in the province by honouring outstanding research achievements.
The Josef Krainer Science Prizes are awarded following a public call for applications by the board of the association “Josef Krainer – Steirisches Gedenkwerk” on the recommendation of an independent scientific advisory board, which is composed of renowned scientists from all Styrian universities across various disciplines and subjects the submitted applications to a rigorous evaluation process in line with international standards.
The 2026 Josef Krainer Academic Awards were presented by the Chairman of the Memorial Foundation, President Gerald Schöpfer, together with Rector Peter Riedler (University of Graz) and Dorli Jaufer, the daughter of Josef Krainer senior.
Source: Styrian Memorial Foundation, 17 March 2026
Photo credit: Foto Fischer
