Research at Vilnius University
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 and research statistics
Scientific research at Vilnius University is conducted at all the structural units, including 14 faculties, 3 research institutes, 5 study and research centres. In 2016, there were 2453 teachers and/or scholars and 860 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.
Academic and/or research staff at Vilnius university in 2016
| Faculty/ Institute/ Centre |
Academic staff | Including those holding academic degrees | Research staff | Including those holding academic degrees |
| Chemistry and Geosciences* | 106 | 102 | 18 | 10 |
| Communication | 60 | 42 | 1 | 1 |
| Economics | 119 | 90 | 5 | 3 |
| History | 51 | 47 | 4 | 1 |
| Kaunas (in Kaunas) | 79 | 62 | 3 | 1 |
| Law | 87 | 74 | 1 | 1 |
| Life Sciences Centre** | 69 | 57 | 193 | 128 |
| Mathematics and Informatics | 141 | 93 | 6 | 3 |
| Medicine | 664 | 349 | 97 | 54 |
| Philology | 199 | 122 | 2 | 2 |
| Philosophy | 90 | 83 | 1 | - |
| Physics | 68 | 63 | 49 | 37 |
| Institute of International Relations and Political Science | 35 | 24 | 2 | 2 |
| Institute of Applied Research | - | - | 35 | 27 |
| Institute of Foreign Languages | 73 | 21 | - | - |
| Institute of Mathematics and Informatics | - | - | 46 | 42 |
| Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy | - | - | 49 | 40 |
| Gender Studies Centre | 5 | 2 | - | - |
| Centre for Religious Studies and Research | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Centre of Oriental Studies | 18 | 7 | - | - |
| Health and Sport Centre | 12 | 2 | - | - |
| Botanical Garden | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| Business School | 30 | 8 | - | - |
| Total: | 1912 | 1254 | 517 | 357 |
* Chemistry and Geosciences was established at the end of 2016 by joining the Faculty of Chemistry and the Departments of the Faculty of Natural Sciences dealing with geology.
** Life Sciences Centre was established at the end of 2016 by joining the Institutes of Biochemistry and Biotechnologies with the Departments of the Faculty of Natural Sciences dealing with biology.
Doctoral theses defended
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
| Doctoral | 169 | 155 | 166 | 144 | 129 |
Doctoral theses defended at vilnius university in 2016 according to branches of science
| Branch of science | Number of theses defended | Doctoral students and employees of VU | Others |
| Biomedical sciences | 30 | 27 | 3 |
| Humanitarian sciences | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| Social sciences | 28 | 28 | - |
| Physical sciences | 46 | 37 | 9 |
| Technological sciences | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| Total: | 129 | 108 | 21 |
EXTERNAL FUNDING, 2016
EXTERNAL FUNDING, 2014–2016
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS IN 2016
CONFERENCES, SEMINARS etc., HELD AT VILNIUS UNIVERSITY, 2014–2016
Awards in 2016
AWARDS OF LITHUANIA’S SCIENCE
In the field of Physical Sciences and Technology
D. Abramavičius for the cycle of works Theory of Two-dimensional Coherent Spectroscopy – A Road to Cognition of Quantum Dynamic Tomography
V. Razumas, G. Valinčius for the cycle of works Biosimilar Self-managing Systems of 2D- and 3-D-structures: Synthesis, Research of Properties and Practical Application
AWARDS OF THE LITHUANIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS
D. Ratautas for the work High-efficiency Enzymatic Electrodes for Biofuel Elements
J. Chmeliov and A. Gelžinis for the work Dynamics of Excitation Energy and Self-regulation Mechanisms in Photosynthesis Systems
G. Sviderskytė for the work Case of Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas: Historical Development, Interpretation, Change of Narrative
J. Navickė for the work Role of Monetary Social Payments in Reducing Poverty in Lithuania: to Discipline, Redistribute, Involve, Invest (Certificate of Merit)
AWARDS OF THE LITHUANIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES FOR STUDENTS
M. Debesis, E. Kizinevič ir J. Sprindys, E. Šimoliūnas, D. Dapkutė, L. Jonušauskas ir E. Skliutas, V. Rabikauskaitė
OTHER AWARDS AND PRIZES
V. Šikšnys - Warren Alpert Foundation Prize, Cross of the Knight of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, Global Lithuania Award 2016.
D. Abramavičius – Mini Nobel by the Research Council of Lithuania and Ministry of Economy.
M. Zaremba - Mini Nobel by the Research Council of Lithuania and Ministry of Economy.
K. Pileckas - Mini Nobel by the Research Council of Lithuania and Ministry of Economy.
V. Nakrošis - Mini Nobel by the Research Council of Lithuania and Ministry of Economy.
G. Valušis - Cross of the Knight of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas for merits to Lithuania and making Lithuania’s name famous.
J. R. Lazutka - Cross of the Knight of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas for merits to Lithuania and making Lithuania’s name famous.
M. A. Šliogeris - Cross of the Knight of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas for merits to Lithuania and making Lithuania’s name famous
Z. Norkus - Cross of the Knight of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas.
A. Ramonaitė - Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.
K. Urba - Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.
D. Pociūtė Abukevičienė - Second Degree Order of the Star of Italy for fostering cultural and academic relations between the two countries.
R. Šalna - Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
M. Michelbertas - Prof. Jozef Kostrzewski’s Award (highest award by the Polish Archaeological Society).
A. Kentra – St. Christopher’s Statue for merits to the city and life creation.
A. Utkus – St. Christopher’s Statue for merits in science.
M. Kazlauskienė – nominal scholarship by association Infobalt for the best research work by young researchers in the field of physics and technologies.
M. Sabaliauskas - nominal scholarship by association Infobalt for the best research work by young researchers in the field of physics and technologies.
A. Švedas - Martynas Mažvydas’ Prize for publicistic writings.
E. Sausverdė – award by Swedish Academy.
A. Žilinskas – international award for the whole of scientific results and their impact on the trend of informatics and applied mathematics science.
A. Katelnikovas - scholarship of the Young Scientists of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences 2016–2017.
E. Žilinskaitė Šinkūnienė - scholarship of the Young Scientists of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences 2016–2017.