Virologist Puchhammer-Stöckl is “Scientist of the Year”



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Virologist Elisabeth Puchammer-Stöckl was named Scientist of the Year. The Minister of Education, Heinz Faßmann (ÖVP), Minister of Education, Science and Research, congratulates. Puchhammer-Stöckl directs the Center for Virology at the University of Vienna. He succeeds Graz historian Barbara Stelzl-Marx, who received the award in 2019.

AUSTRIA. “Puchhammer-Stöckl is a true communicator in the service of science,” says Faßmann in her eulogy: “In an extremely challenging time, she uses her high level of competence seriously and selectively for politics. Her choice also demonstrates the importance of role of the Vienna Medical University, especially in times of the corona pandemic. I warmly congratulate you on the award. ”The Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, is also excited about the election.“ I warmly congratulate virologist Elisabeth Puchhammer- Stöckl from @MedUni_Wien for her award as Scientist of the Year. Science is an important engine of innovation in our society, “he posted on Twitter.

“It makes science understandable to the laity”

The 58-year-old virologist was named Scientist of the Year 2020 by the Education and Science Journalists Club. The award honors his mediation work during the coronavirus pandemic. Puchhammer-Stöckl is also available to the Ministry of Education with her expertise when it comes to difficult decisions. The director of the Center for Virology at the University of Vienna always knows how to present complex scientific relationships in a way that lay people can understand, Faßmann says in a broadcast. Head of SPÖ, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, congratulates via Twitter: “I very warmly congratulate virologist Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stöckl from @MedUni_Wien for her award as Scientist of the Year. Science is a major driver of innovation in our society.” .

“Objective and calm”

In recent months, Puchhammer-Stöckl has repeatedly explained the facts and background of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, especially her “calm demeanor” and the “factual information” that is appreciated. “All of us scientists and journalists have probably done a lot in 2020 to promote people’s understanding of the virological basis of the pandemic and to resolve relevant scientific issues in the face of an immense flood of information,” said Puchhammer. Stöckl in a first reaction. “Congratulations to Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stöckl for being the Scientist of the Year 2020!” Says the Austrian Women’s Ring: “Especially in these hectic times, it is a very positive sign that a competent woman has received this award on the subject! current!”

Research “natural killer cells”

Puchhammer-Stöckl was born in Vienna, where he studied medicine and came to virology through a project. After completing his training as a hygiene and microbiology specialist and as a virology specialist, he completed his habilitation. Scientifically, it focuses on so-called “persistent viruses”, that is, pathogens such as herpes viruses, which remain in the body for life after infection and affect it. In relation to coronaviruses, she and her group are investigating the immune response of “natural killer cells”, which is found at the beginning of the infection. In 2000 she became an associate professor at the Center for Virology, which she has run since 2018. In early December of the previous year, Puchhammer-Stöckl, who was a member of the traffic light commission and is still a member of the crown task force of the Minister of Health, he assumed a chair in the department of virology at the Medical University of Vienna.

Follow Barbara Stelzl-Marx

The election has been held annually since 1994, and the journalists’ club wants to honor the efforts of researchers to make their work and topic understandable to a wider audience and thus raise the reputation of science and research in Austria. In recent years, the historian Barbara Stelzl-Marx (2019), the chemist Nuno Maulide (2018), the complexity researcher Stefan Thurner (2017 / MedUni Vienna), the genre doctor Alexandra Kautzky-Willer (2016 / MedUni Vienna ) and archaeologist Wolfgang Neubauer (2015) received the award.

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Source: Med Uni Vienna



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