Claude Hannoun Best Body of Work Prize

My name is Kevin Ciminski, and I am a group leader at the Institute of Virology at the University Medical Center in Freiburg, Germany.

I studied biology with a focus on immunology at the University of Freiburg, where I became deeply fascinated by the immune system and its intricate battle against invading pathogens. I then pursued my PhD at the Institute of Virology at the University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany, in Martin Schwemmle’s laboratory and in Linfa Wang’s laboratory at the DUKE-NUS Medical School in Singapore, where I focused on investigating the zoonotic potential of emerging influenza A viruses from bats.

Our current research focuses on advancing the understanding of the virus-host interactions of influenza A viruses and their host reservoirs. Specifically, we are interested in how these viruses are controlled by the immune system in their natural hosts, as well as the evolutionary leaps that enable them to jump to new host species. Because bats have a pivotal role as reservoirs for human-pathogenic emerging viruses, such as Ebola, Marburg, Nipah, and Hendra viruses, we place a special emphasis on studying bat-derived influenza A viruses.

Receiving the Claude Hannoun Best Body of Work Award recognizes the hard work and achievements of my team over the past few years and inspires me to continue pursuing high-quality, impactful research. This award comes at a pivotal moment in my career, as I am establishing my scientific independence. The visibility that this award provides within the scientific community will be invaluable in sparking interest in our research and fostering future collaborations.

In my view, the limited prospects in academic research pose the greatest challenge for young scientists. In the short term, this is reflected in short-term employment contracts tied to temporary third-party funding and the intense pressure to publish, which forces researchers to prove themselves continuously. Over the medium and long term, the scarcity of permanent positions ("landing spots") becomes a major obstacle, making it difficult to plan stable careers. To navigate these challenges, I believe it is crucial for early-career researchers to secure (partial) funding for their positions or projects as early as possible. At the same time, building a strong professional network is essential for accessing shared resources, forming collaborations, and raising visibility for committees and funding bodies.

Since the beginning of my Ph.D., international conferences like the ESWI have played an important role in shaping my research through the friendships and scientific collaborations I’ve made there. These events often bring together researchers and leading figures from around the world. Beyond providing an opportunity to present your work on a large stage, they offer an excellent chance to expand your network of early-career scientists and launch exciting new projects.