Rolf Tarrach Award 2026

08.07.2026

Rolf Tarrach Award 2026 - Gallery

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The Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Kirchberg provided the setting for the 15th edition of the Rolf Tarrach Award on 8 July 2026, organised by Les Amis de l’Université du Luxembourg. The event brought together members of the academic community, supporters of higher education, alumni and distinguished guests to celebrate outstanding doctoral research and academic excellence at the University of Luxembourg.

The evening was opened by Dr Gérard Hoffmann, Chairman of Les Amis de l’Université du Luxembourg. This was followed by a retrospective interview between Alexandra Da Silva, Vice-President of the Luis y Antonio Portabella Foundation, and the evening’s moderator, Sherley De Deurwaerder. Prof. Dr Stéphane Bordas, Professor of Computational Mechanics, then introduced this year’s laureate, Dr Thomas Lavigne, who presented the main findings and impact of his award-winning doctoral thesis.

Dr Lavigne received the award for his thesis, “Biomechanical Response of Human Skin: A Hierarchical Porous Media Framework”. Combining computational modelling and experimental methods, his research investigates how prolonged pressure affects blood flow and skin tissues, with the objective of improving the prevention of severe skin injuries such as pressure ulcers in vulnerable patients.

A highlight of the evening was the keynote address by Prof. Dr Rolf Tarrach, Rector Emeritus of the University of Luxembourg, entitled “Randomness against Biases”. In his lecture, he explored how the thoughtful use of randomness can help reduce bias in academia and research, contributing to greater fairness, trust and reliability.

The ceremony concluded with closing remarks from Prof. Dr Jens Kreisel, Rector of the University of Luxembourg, before guests continued the discussions during a convivial cocktail reception.

Throughout the evening, the University of Luxembourg Choir provided a distinguished musical accompaniment, enhancing the atmosphere of the ceremony and contributing to the success of the event.

The Rolf Tarrach Award is made possible through the generous support of Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management Luxembourg and the Luis y Antonio Portabella Foundation, whose commitment continues to promote excellence in research and higher education.

Congratulations to Dr Thomas Lavigne on this well-deserved distinction.

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