Prof. Urtė Neniškytė, a researcher at the Institute of Biosciences and the EMBL Partnership Institute of the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University (VU), the Institute of Biosciences, and the EMBL Partnership Institute, has been appointed Ambassador for the European Research Council (ERC). She has joined the international “Ambassadors for the ERC” network, an initiative launched by the ERC and the Association of ERC Grantees (AERG).  has been appointed the

The aim of the ERC Ambassadors initiative is to strengthen connections between ERC grantees and national research and policy communities, raise awareness of ERC funding opportunities, and highlight the importance of frontier, curiosity-driven research for Europe’s future. In their respective countries, ambassadors act as representatives and advocates of the scientific community, speaking about the need for sustained investment in high-level research.

Last year, Prof. Neniškytė was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant. In her new role, she will encourage researchers in Lithuania to apply for ERC funding, share her experience in preparing competitive international grant proposals, and engage in discussions with policymakers and the wider public about the value of fundamental research.

The mandate of the Ambassadors lasts one year, with the possibility of renewal. The initiative seeks to strengthen the ERC culture across Europe and empower national communities to partici