The HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research announces the recipients of the 2025 Young Researcher Award, recognizing their significant contributions to scientific research. The awards were presented by Dr. Ákos Horváth, Director General of HUN-REN EK, in recognition of the awardees’ outstanding achievements.
Dr. Maria Gracheva, research fellow at the Nuclear Analysis and Radiography Department, is awarded for her research on transition metal uptake, redistribution, and remobilization in plants. Using techniques such as Mössbauer and synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, she has provided new insights into iron metabolism with potential applications in agriculture. Her work involves international collaborations with institutions including the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (France) and the Jožef Stefan Institute (Slovenia).
Dr. Adél Sarolta Rácz, research fellow at the Thin-Film Physics Department, is recognized for her contributions to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiling in various thin-film systems. Her research covers carbide nanolayers and biopolymer coatings, with relevance to corrosion protection and dermatological applications. She was guest researcher at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, has participated in international projects such as M-ERA.NET OxyGaN and Horizon PowerizeD and developed new protocols for XPS artifact correction.
Erik Walcz, senior development engineer at the Fusion Plasma Physics Department, is acknowledged for his research on cryogenic technologies related to fusion reactors. He developed a thermal shield cooling concept for the ITER pellet injector and designed a cryogenic extruder for fuel pellet production within the EUROfusion consortium. Additionally, he built the CryPT-ON test system to study 3D-printed materials at cryogenic temperatures and assess their potential in fusion technology applications.
The award highlights the achievements of the three researchers, whose work contributes to the advancement of science and technology at HUN-REN EK.
