Research at Vilnius University
- Main Research Areas
- Organization of Research
- Research Statistics, 2015
- Scientific Publications in 2015
- Awards in 2015
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 2015, there were 2404 teachers and/or scholars and 879 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 2015, the University received 8.69 million Eur 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 6,70 million Eur 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 0.594 million Eur in 2015.
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 2015, participation in the international scientific programmes earned 0.979 million Eur.
Ordered Research Projects
In 2015, VU researchers carried out research projects ordered by national and international private sector and earned 1,79 million Eur. The international private sector dominates among the University customers.
Structural Funds for R&D
In 2015, 1,14 million Eur from Structural Funds were received for the implementation of research projects under the scheme of national integrated programmes and other R&D programmes.
In 2015, 144 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 (180) of scientific events held by the University.
Research Statistics, 2015
| Faculty/ Institute/ Centre |
Academic staff | Including those holding academic degrees | Research staff | Including those holding academic degrees |
| Chemistry | 49 | 47 | 9 | 6 |
| Communication | 59 | 42 | 0 | 0 |
| Economics | 117 | 82 | 4 | 1 |
| History | 51 | 46 | 5 | 1 |
| Humanities (in Kaunas) | 76 | 63 | 3 | 1 |
| Law | 83 | 71 | 0 | 0 |
| Mathematics and Informatics | 156 | 104 | 5 | 2 |
| Medicine | 659 | 340 | 92 | 53 |
| Natural Sciences | 119 | 104 | 33 | 24 |
| Philology | 195 | 124 | 6 | 2 |
| Philosophy | 85 | 80 | 2 | 0 |
| Physics | 71 | 66 | 54 | 47 |
| Institute of International Relations and Political Science | 38 | 28 | 3 | 2 |
| Institute of Applied Research | 0 | 0 | 36 | 26 |
| Institute of Foreign Languages | 80 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Institute of Biochemistry | 0 | 0 | 62 | 50 |
| Institute of Biotechnology | 0 | 0 | 104 | 58 |
| Institute of Mathematics and Informatics | 0 | 0 | 49 | 45 |
| Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy | 0 | 0 | 52 | 39 |
| Gender Studies Centre | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Centre for Religious Studies and Research | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Centre of Oriental Studies | 17 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Health and Sport Centre | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Botanical Garden | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Total: | 1880 | 1239 | 524 | 362 |
DOCTORAL THESES DEFENDED
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |
| Doctoral | 151 | 169 | 155 | 166 | 144 |
DOCTORAL THESES DEFENDED AT VILNIUS UNIVERSITY IN 2015 ACCORDING TO BRANCHES OF SCIENCE
| Branch of science | Number of theses defended | Doctoral students and employees of VU | Others |
| Biomedical sciences | 36 | 27 | 9 |
| Humanitarian sciences | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| Social sciences | 35 | 31 | 4 |
| Physical sciences | 51 | 38 | 13 |
| Technological sciences | 11 | 9 | 2 |
| Total: | 144 | 113 | 31 |
BUDGET-FINANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS
| Faculty/Institute/Centre |
Number of research projects |
||
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |
| Chemistry | 9 | - | 26 |
| Communication | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| Economics | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| History | 4 | - | - |
| Humanities (in Kaunas) | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Law | 5 | - | 9 |
| Mathematics and Informatics | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Medicine | 51 | 36 | 36 |
| Natural Sciences | 21 | 19 | 19 |
| Philology | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Philosophy | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Physics | 12 | 5 | 16 |
| Institute of International Relations and Political Science | 5 | 2 | - |
| Institute of Applied Research | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| Institute of Foreign Languages | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Centres | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Institute of Biochemistry | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Institute of Biotechnology | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Institute of Mathematics and Informatics | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Botanical Garden | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EXTERNAL FUNDING, 2015
EXTERNAL FUNDING, 2013–2015
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS IN 2015
CONFERENCES, SEMINARS etc., HELD AT VILNIUS UNIVERSITY,2013–2015
Awards in 2015
AWARDS OF LITHUANIA’S SCIENCE
- In the field of Physical Sciences and Technology
G. Juška, K. Arlauskas, K. Genevičius for the cycle of works Transport and Recombination of Charge Carriers in the Materials of Disorderly Structure
J. Žilinskas for the cycle of works Creation, Parallelization and Application of Global Optimization Algorithms
AWARDS OF THE LITHUANIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS
V. Volungevičius for the work In the Shadow of the Castle: Territory, Society, and Power in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
V. Pilipauskaitė and D. Puplinskaitė for the work Aggregation of Autoregressive Processes and Fields
S. Nargėlas for the work Research of Nonequilibrium Charge Carriers Dynamics by Trigger Probe Methods InN, InGaN, GaAsBi
AWARDS OF THE LITHUANIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES FOR STUDENTS
J. Smirnovienė, I. Urbanavičiūtė, J. Nainys, T. Šneideris, T. Penkauskas
OTHER AWARDS AND PRIZES
S. Klimašauskas has become member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, RSC.
V. Hendrixson awarded title of honorary professor of Karaganda State University of Medicine (Kazakhstan).
C. Caro Dugo for the meaningful work and significant contribution to a deeper cognition of Spanish and Lithuanian cultures and translation of the Lithuanian epic poem Seasons (Metai) by K. Donelaitis into the Spanish language awarded the Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
K. Vitkus granted the 1st degree award For the Merits to Vilnius and Nation.
D. Valančiūnas awarded for the spread and promotion of the Hindi language.
Z. Zinkevičius awarded Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.
V. Mizaras awarded Medal of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas.
K. V. Nastopka awarded Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.
Z. Norkus awarded Medal of the Academies of Sciences of the Baltic Countries for scientific research of special significance to the entire Baltic region.
E. Sausverdė awarded Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania for contribution to developing relations with Scandinavia.
V. Šikšnys ir P. Šerpytis awarded St. Christopher Statue for contribution to science.
R. Klioštoraitytė ir D. Būrė awarded Breast Star of a Knight Grand Cross of Italy for teaching Italian at the University, spread of the Italian language and culture in Lithuania and valuable activities in translating the Italian literature into Lithuanian.
A. Česnulevičius for merits in developing scientific and educational activities in the sphere of cartography granted the Sign of Honour, the highest award of the National Land Service under the Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania to honour people who have most contributed to the spheres of land regulation and administration, geodesy, spatial information and cartography.
A.Vaišnys granted the Seimas award for the spread of parliamentarism idea and fostering of the Lithuanian traditions.
V. Nakrošius granted Alena Brunovska 2015 award for high competence and exceptional results in the field of public administration.