Winners of the RNVH Jubilee Prize 2025 announced

11 March 2025 News item

During the celebration of International Women's Day on Monday 10 March, four female scientists received the RNVH Jubilee Prize. The prize, which consists of a certificate and 1000 euros, was presented by Rector Magnificus José Sanders.

Every two years, the Radboud Women Professors Network awards the anniversary prize to excellent female scientists who obtained their doctorate within the last five years. One scientist per field of science at Radboud University and Radboudumc (humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, medical sciences) receives the prize.

The jury, consisting of professors Yvonne Engels, Margot van Mulken, Laura van Niftrik and jury chairman Ashley Terlouw, was very impressed by the entries. ‘Our university has so many talented women who make the most of their talents. That made it difficult to choose.’ The jury ultimately selected the following winners: Marthe Stevens, MengXing Na, Sibel Ozasir Kacar and Esmée Bakker.

Category Alpha: Marthe Stevens

Motivation jury: ‘Marthe Stevens has a very diverse, interdisciplinary profile, and it seems as if she excels in every aspect of that interdisciplinary profile (ethics, AI, health and education). She has done an impressive amount in the short time after her PhD, including publishing many publications, of which she is the first author. Marthe comes from outside: she was trained elsewhere and did her PhD elsewhere, only after that did she join the RU. Her social added value is also worth mentioning: she works together with Teachers in Residence (secondary school teachers who have a small appointment at the university) to apply AI in secondary education. In any case, she is praised for her educational innovations, which she has implemented in education at FFTR since COVID. She is known for taking the lead, being approachable, and showing inspiring leadership, wherever she has worked.’

Category Beta: MengXing Na

Motivation jury: ‘MengXing Na has been a researcher for a year as a postdoc at the department of ultrafast spectroscopy of correlated materials of the Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science. She obtained her PhD in 2022 and has built up a very impressive portfolio in a short time. She is already seen as a global expert in the field of ultrafast dynamics of quantum materials and has already achieved breakthroughs in this field as well as many publications to her name in renowned journals and as first author. Because of her knowledge and expertise, she is often asked to give seminars and presentations at conferences and she participates in many research collaborations. In addition to her research, she has already demonstrated a great deal of social commitment during her short career through her commitment to and participation in various outreach events at secondary schools, organizing summer schools and involvement in various activities to promote diversity and inclusion.’

Category Gamma: Sibel Ozasir Kacar

Motivation jury: ‘The theme of her research, women entrepreneurship as a potent mechanism for social transformation, fits well with what the RNVH stands for: empowerment of women and removing obstacles to their careers. She approaches it through an intersectional lens. In her research, she collaborates with colleagues in different countries and has published in various international journals and is a junior board member of the journal Gender, Work and Organisation and of the revier boards of two other journals. Her work as a researcher has been honored with various grants. She supervises two PhDs and has a clear educational vision. She presents her research in an original and creative way, including in the short film 'The True Mirror: Melisa' and in a podcast.

Category Medical: Esmée Bakker

Motivation jury: ‘Esmee Bakker works at the department of primary care within the theme of prevention, where she focuses on the prevention of cardiovascular and brain-related diseases by promoting a physically active lifestyle. During and after her PhD, she has built up an impressive CV with many publications in top journals, an excellent recruitment ability, and an extensive international network, during which she completed a dual PhD trajectory (Radboudumc, John Moores University Liverpool) and already stayed at various universities during her PhD period. As a postdoc, she has further expanded her international network.She stayed with a Marie SkLodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellowship in Granada and acquired several awards and grants. She is currently developing a regional database infrastructure for prevention-related research, has an active and innovative role in education and is committed to diversity and team science. She has generated a lot of media attention with her research. The fact that she is in a talent track towards UD is a given with this CV.’

Previous winners

2023

Category Alpha: Dr. Imme Lammertink
Category Beta: Dr. Katharine Mulrey
Category Gamma: Dr. Saskia Glas
Category Medical: Dr. Maria Victoria Luna Velez

2021

Category Alfa: Dr. Cécile de Morrée
Category Beta: Dr. Jolijn Onvlee
Category Gamma: Dr. Kathrine van den Bogert
Category Medical: Dr. Yvonne Hartman

2019

Category Alfa: Dr. Kobie van Krieken
Category Beta: Dr. Lotte Krabbenborg
Category Gamma: Dr. Stéfanie André
Category Medical: Dr. Rianne van Boekel

2017

Category Alfa: Dr. Connie de Vos
Category Beta: Dr. Kim Bonger
Category Gamma: Dr. Maartje Luijten
Category Medical: Dr. Alma Tostmann

2015

Category Alfa: Daantje Meuwissen
Category Beta: Francesca Vidotto
Category Gamma: Esther Rozendaal
Category Medical: Nicol Voermans

Contact information

For more information about the price, please contact nvh [at] dpo.ru.nl (nvh[at]dpo[dot]ru[dot]nl).

Organizational unit: Faculty of Science, Nijmegen School of Management, Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies, Faculty of Medical Sciences (Radboudumc), Radboud Center for Philosophy and Society