The academic results of students of the Scientific Students’Association (TDK) and PhD students were presented at the Kerpel Talent Day held in the Semmelweis Salon. At Semmelweis University’s Kerpel-Fronius Ödön Talent Programme event the Kerpel and the Mentor of Excellence awards were handed out.

RS26054_KA-20141208-IMG_0432-kutatói-szalon-scrIn his opening speech Dr. József Tímár, Vice-Rector for General and Educational Affairs emphasized Semmelweis University’s responsibility in health education. More than half of Hungary’s doctors and healthcare specialists are trained here and the institution needs to take care of nurturing talents as well. “The activity of the Scientific Students’ Association has been one of the most prominent achievements in providing a continuous supply of educators. Semmelweis University pioneered in starting the programme and making it widespread all around Hungary.”, he said. He added that international acknowledgement and job opportunities were accessible and open to the best researchers and doctors, but it was also important that they made Hungary benefit from their knowledge.

Dr. György Fekete, the President of the Kerpel-Fronius Ödön Talent Programme Committee announced that young talents, whose up-to-date methods and outstanding results add to the good reputation of the university, were going to present their academic achievements. “We would also like to thank the mentors for their work in making this programme acknowledged and used well beyond the confines of the university”, he emphasized.

Dr. Attila Szabó, the Secretary of the Kerpel-Fronius Ödön Talent Programme said that the event revolved around science and culture. He also mentioned that the Astellas Young Investigators Awards would be handed out for the third time.

The first to present their academic results were the winners of last year’s Astellas Young Investigators Awards who are also the members of the Kerpel-Fronius Ödön Talent Programme. Dr. Edit Gara, PhD student spoke about vasculogenesis, Dr. Enikő Lázár, PhD student presented her study on the structure and function of human peroxidasin and Dalma Kellermayer, fifth year student of the Faculty of Medicine gave an account of the cardiac effects of physical activities.

RS26040_KA-20141208-IMG_0479-kutatói-szalon-scrEszter Trojnár, Dr. Zsuzsanna Zotter and Dr. Balázs Odler were given the 2014 Astellas Young Investigators Awards by Dr. György Markovich, director of Astellas Pharma Ltd., Dr. József Tímár and Dr. György Fekete. In his speech Dr. György Markovich remarked that he had taken part in the work of the Scientific Students’ Research at Semmelweis University more than forty years before, which had given him a lot of inspiration.
The Kerpel Award was given to Dr. Tivadar Tulassay, Rector Emeritus who took an important part in launching of the programme. The Mentor of Excellence award was granted to Dr. Veronika Müller, deputy director of the Department of Pulmonology and Dr. Edit Gara and Dr. Attila Marosi PhD students were given the Kerpel Student Award.

Two students of paramedics gave an overall view on the results of their research done under the patronage of the Kerpel Programme. István Norbert Huszár gave a presentation in English titled “Nafion-induced Acidic Transition and Exclusion Zone Formation”, and Susanne Prokopp spoke about the study of the dimerization of the vasopressin receptor.
The awards of the Foundations for Cardiac Arrest, Forensic Medicine and the Bókay Foundation were given to Fanni Pálya, Eszter Lévai and Máté Somlyai.

RS26010_KA-20141208-IMG_0657-kutatói-szalon-scrNot only academic achievements were in focus at the Talent Day, but that of artistic activities; the recital of Fanni Pálya, the flute performance of Dr. Attila Marosi, the folk dance of Alexandra Riczu and Kata Varga and Máté Somlyay’s artistic nature photos proved that academic and artistic activities can go hand in hand.

Mária Mozer
Photos: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
Translated by: Ágnes Raubinek