Research at Vilnius University
- Main Research Areas
- Organization of Research
- Research Statistics, 2014
- Scientific Publications in 2014
- Awards in 2014
Main Research Areas
- Humanities.
- Lithuanian Studies.
- Structure and Development of Society.
- Biological and Sociopsychological Cognition and Evolution of Man.
- Healthy Man, Prevention, Diagnostics and Treatment of Diseases.
- Genomics, Biomolecules and Biotechnologies.
- Changes in Ecosystems, Protection, Natural Resources.
- New Functional Materials and Derivatives.
- Theoretical and Condensed Matter Physics.
- Laser Physics and Light Technologies.
- Fundamental and Applied Mathematics.
- Informatics and Information Technologies.
Organization of Research
Scientific research at Vilnius University is conducted at all the structural units, including 12 faculties, 7 research institutes, 4 study and research centres. In 2014, there were 2451 teachers and/or scholars and 837 doctoral students pursuing scientific research at the University. Students are also involved in the research activities.
The research activities at the University are coordinated by the Committee for Research Affairs, the Pro-Rector for Research Affairs and Directorate for Research and Innovation.
Funding Sources
Research activities at VU are funded from various sources, such as State Budget, Research Council of Lithuania, funds of state and municipal institutions, international science programmes, contracting.
State Budget
Each year a certain proportion of the University's research budget is formed from the State Budget allocations, allotted to all higher education and research institutions according to their previous scientific performance. In 2014, the University received 26.6 million Litas from this source.
Research Council of Lithuania
The Research Council of Lithuania (the Council) supports projects initiated by scientists; projects according to the national science programmes (Social Challenges to National Security, The State and the Nation: Heritage and Identity; Energy of the Future; Chronic Infectious Diseases; Ecosystems of Lithuania: Climate Change and Impact on a Person; National Programme of Developing the Lithuanian Studies 2009–2015 and others (mutual cooperation between Lithuania and Ukraine, mutual cooperation between Lithuania and France, tripartite cooperation including Lithuania, Latvia and Taiwan et al.) Over 35.8 million Litas were allotted for the implementation of these projects.
Other Governmental Sources
Other governmental sources consist of funds of the state and municipal institutions. Projects carried out on request by the state institutions amounted to 2.3 million Litas in 2014.
International Science Programmes
The University teachers and researchers take active part in the international science programmes and programmes based on bilateral agreements (with Switzerland, France, Ukraine, Taiwan, Belarus et al.).
In 2014, participation in the international scientific programmes earned 2.6 million Litas.
Ordered Research Projects
In 2014, VU researchers carried out research projects ordered by national and international private sector and earned 7.3 million Litas. The international private sector dominates among the University customers.
Structural Funds for R&D
In 2014, 10.4 million Litas from Structural Funds were received for the implementation of research projects under the scheme of national integrated programmes and other R&D programmes.
In 2014, 166 doctoral theses were completed; the results of research were published in prestigious international and national journals, discussed at conferences. There was also a significant number (150) of scientific events held by the University.
Research Statistics, 2014
ACADEMIC AND/OR RESEARCH STAFF AT VILNIUS UNIVERSITY IN 2014
| Staff group | Employees | With the doctoral degree |
|---|---|---|
| Academic staff | 1860 | 1224 |
| Research staff | 591 | 393 |
| Administration staff | 141 | |
| Staff servicing science and studies | 1420 | 153 |
| Maintenance staff | 513 | |
| Total: | 4525 | 1770 |
DOCTORAL THESES DEFENDED
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctoral | 117 | 151 | 169 | 155 | 166 |
| Branch of science | Number of theses defended | Doctoral students and employees of VU | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical sciences | 40 | 31 | 9 |
| Humanitarian sciences | 20 | 17 | 3 |
| Social sciences | 42 | 38 | 4 |
| Physical sciences | 54 | 39 | 15 |
| Technological sciences | 10 | 10 | - |
| Total: | 166 | 135 | 31 |
BUDGET-FINANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS
| Faculty/Institute/Centre | Number of research projects | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
| Chemistry | 9 | 9 | 9 | - |
| Communication | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Economics | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| History | 4 | 4 | 4 | - |
| Humanities (in Kaunas) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Law | 6 | 5 | 5 | - |
| Mathematics and Informatics | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Medicine | 56 | 51 | 51 | 36 |
| Natural Sciences | 25 | 22 | 21 | 19 |
| Philology | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Philosophy | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
| Physics | 14 | 13 | 12 | 5 |
| Institute of International Relations and Political Science | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Institute of Applied Research | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| Institute of Foreign Languages | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Centres | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Institute of Biochemistry | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Institute of Biotechnology | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Institute of Mathematics and Informatics | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Botanical Garden | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
SUPPORT BY RESEARCH COUNCIL OF LITHUANIA IN 2014
| National research programmes | Global grants | Research projects and international research projects | Post-doc research projects | Conferences, mobility and other projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3832.7 | 16872.5 | 11.973 | 2487.5 | 683.9 |
| 10.7 | 47.1 | 33.4 | 6.9 | 1.9 |
| 35849.3 |
EXTERNAL FUNDING, 2014
| Research Council of Lithuania | 35849.3 |
|---|---|
| Research projects carried out by request of the state institutions | 2293.4 |
| Structural funds for R&D | 10399.6 |
| International science programmes, projects and contracts | 2550.2 |
| Ordered research projects | 7285.2 |
EXTERNAL FUNDING, 2012-2014
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS IN 2014
CONFERENCES, SEMINARS etc., HELD AT VILNIUS UNIVERSITY 2012 – 2014
Awards in 2014
AWARDS OF LITHUANIA’S SCIENCE
- In the field of Physical Sciences and Technology
D. Čiplys, R. Rimeika, V. Samulionis for the cycle of works High Frequency Acoustic Waves in Ferroelectric Crystals, Wideband Semiconductors and Nanostructures
R. Garunkštis, A. Laurinčikas for the cycle of works Dzeta Functions. Universality, Zeros and Moments
- In the field of Biomedical and Agricultural Sciences
G. Sasnauskas, G. Tamulaitis, M. Zaremba for the cycle of works New Mechanisms of Target-Specific Endonucleases Interaction with DNA Regulation and Catalysis
AWARDS OF THE LITHUANIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES:
- of Jonas Kubilius (Mathematics):
E. Manstavičius granted award named after Jonas Kubilius for the cycle of Works of Probabilistic Theory of Numbers and Combinatorics
- of Povilas Brazdžiūnas (Experimental Physics):
K. Jarašiūnas granted award named after Povilas Brazdžiūnas for the cycle of works Creation and Development of Dynamic Holography Methods to Observe Fast Actions in Semiconductors
AWARDS OF THE LITHUANIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS
Petronytė for the work Formation of Attitudes towards Political Issues in a Post-communist State: Lithuania’s case
K. Aidas for the work Development and Application of Joint KM/MM Methods to Model Spectral Parameters of Complicated Molecular Systems
K. Olechnovič for the work Methods of Analysis and Assessment of Protein and Nucleoacid Spatial Structures
I. Uktverytė for the work Genetic Structural Analysis of Lithuanian’s Ethnolinguistic Groups Based on Informative Genome Markers
V. Silius, A. Spiridonov awarded Certificates of Merit
AWARDS OF THE LITHUANIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES FOR STUDENTS
D. Habdankaitė, D. Likaitė, K. Gelžinytė, N. Garejev, I. Gražulevičiūtė, R. Stankevičiūtė, K. Stuopelytė, J. Kazokaitė
T. Makaras awarded Certificate of Merit
OTHER AWARDS AND PRIZES
V. Daujotytė-Pakerienė awarded honorary decoration of the Ministry of Education and Science for contribution to Lithuania’s science, education, culture, for training scientists and teachers, strengthening creative attitude towards homeland.
D. Dilytė-Staškevičienė awarded Martynas Mažvydas’ prize of the Ministry of Culture for contribution to Lithuania’s language, history of literature and art of books, as well as St Jeronimus’ Prize
A. Samalavičius awarded B. Savukynas’ prize
A. Holvoet awarded Golden Cross of the Republic of Poland
I. Krivienė awarded prize of the Ministry of Culture for research in librarianship, bibliography, bibliology and practical activities in libraries
R. Sudikienė, V. Tarutis, G. Kalinauskas, K. Ručinskas, cardio surgeons and cardiologists, granted Lithuania’s honorary award Yearly Achievement for unique operations
G. Tautvaišienėelected Vice-President of International Union of Pure and Applied Physics and Chair of Astrophysics Commission
J. Jankauskas granted title of the academician of Lithuania’s Olympic Academy
R. Makuška, R. Leipus, R. Jankauskas, K. Strupas became full members of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences
T. Vaisieta granted Kazimieras Barėnas literature prize