Events
Event

Rolf Tarrach Award ceremony 2026

  • Location

    Chambre de Commerce

    Room C1, 7 Rue Alcide de Gasperi

    1615, Kirchberg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

  • Topic(s)
    Computer Science & ICT, Life Sciences & Medicine
  • Type(s)
    Free of charge, In-person event

Les Amis de l’Université du Luxembourg are delighted to invite you to the 15th edition of the Rolf Tarrach Award ceremony on Wednesday 8 July 2026 at the Chambre de Commerce. The laureate of the award for the best doctoral thesis at the University of Luxembourg is Dr Thomas Lavigne.

Programme

  • 18.00

    • Welcome address by Dr Gérard Hoffmann, Chairman of Les Amis de l’Université du Luxembourg
    • Retrospective by Ms Alexandra Da Silva, Vice-President of the Luis y Antonio Portabella Foundation
    • Presentation of the laureate by Prof. Dr Stéphane Bordas, Professor of Computational Mechanics
    • Thesis presentation by Dr Thomas Lavigne, Doctoral Researcher in Biomechanics and Poromechanics
    • Keynote address by Prof. Dr Rolf Tarrach, Rector Emeritus of the University of Luxembourg
    • Closing remarks by Prof. Dr Jens Kreisel, Rector of the University of Luxembourg

  • 19.30

    Cocktail reception


The evening will be moderated by Sherley De Deurwaerder, journalist and alumna. The University of Luxembourg Choir will provide the musical accompaniment. Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management Luxembourg and the Luis y Antonio Portabella Foundation provide funding for the prize.

Leaureate

“Biomechanical Response of Human Skin: A Hierarchical Porous Media Framework” by Thomas Lavigne

The thesis combines computational modelling and experimental methods to investigate how prolonged physical pressure restricts blood flow and can damage human skin. The work aims to help healthcare professionals better predict and prevent severe skin injuries, such as pressure ulcers, in vulnerable patients. This dissertation perfectly illustrates the interdisciplinarity that characterises both the work of Stéphane Bordas, one of the supervisors of this cotutelle thesis (University of Luxembourg and ENSAM) as well as the aspirations of the University of Luxembourg. This work was funded by an AFR PhD Grant of the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR, no. 17013182).

Keynote

“Randomness against Biases” by Rolf Tarrach

In academia and research, biases are a major source of injustice and unreliability. The thoughtful use of randomness can help restore fairness and trust.

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