Our 2026 PhD Impact Award winners are:
- Focus Area Cultural Heritage: Zakaria Abyaa, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
- Project title: “Sustainability Assessment of Architectural Heritage: An innovation for human resilience”
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Focus Area One Health: Prudence Tatiana Nti Mvilongo, KU Leuven
- Project title: “No girl left behind: Young African women reimagining HIV prevention”
- Focus Area Future Materials and Technologies: Gonçalo Teixeira Ferraz from KU Leuven
- Project title: “Making steel bridges last longer with smarter materials”
- Project title: “Making steel bridges last longer with smarter materials”
From advocating for vulnerable young women and preserving shared heritage to improving infrastructure, our winners' research reaches beyond academia, spanning cultures and continents.
Zakaria Abyaa | “Sustainability Assessment of Architectural Heritage: An innovation for human resilience”
Zakaria Abyaa sees research as “inherently polymorphic and highly collaborative.” His project examines the resilience and sustainability of traditional architecture as exemplified by the 2023 earthquake in Morocco, where modern cement buildings were destroyed but traditional earthen constructions withstood the disaster. By blending centuries-old building knowledge with modern assessment tools, Abyaa’s study reveals that earthen constructions are both environmentally friendly and durable against natural disasters.
In his own words, Abyaa's research highlights the potential of Mediterranean architectural heritage to inform innovative, sustainable solutions for disaster resilience and climate challenges: “My research crucially bridges Africa and Europe through collaborative exchange. This benefits inhabitants across the Mediterranean, helping them embrace shared heritage knowledge and architectural know-how, ultimately preserving our universal world heritage for all of humanity”.
" By making complex research accessible, we empower communities, inspire informed decisions, and actively contribute to changing the world. Science communication helps raise critical awareness about our most pressing and palpable socio-economic, cultural and environmental issues. "
Zakaria Abyaa, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
Prudence Tatiana Nti Mvilongo | “No girl left behind: Young African women reimagining HIV prevention”
Nti Mvilongo’s project tackles the high HIV risk faced by young women who sell sex in sub-Saharan Africa, where most do not have access to preventive medicine. Working alongside young women, nurses, and programme leaders across eleven countries, the research developed practical, respectful HIV services tailored to their needs, including peer support and flexible clinic hours. Using real-life stories and photos, the project demonstrates how proven approaches can sustain care, even with limited funding.
Prudence Tatiana Nti Mvilongo highlights that research should go beyond publishing findings, especially when it can save lives: “Research should not only be about publishing papers. It should relate more to girls whose lives are at risk. This award helps me share their stories simply, beyond science. I want people to see why young women who sell sex need HIV care that fits their lives, their realities and how we can make sure no girl is left behind."
Nti Mvilongo and her research team are now developing an AI tool to help keep girls connected to vital services, ensuring no-one is left behind when health systems fall short. Their model now ensures that 2,500+ young women receive HIV prevention.
" Science communication matters because it turns data into something people can use and identify with. It helps community health workers, health leaders, and girls themselves understand what works, and act now to keep them safe. "
Prudence Tatiana Nti Mvilongo, KU Leuven.
Gonçalo Teixeira Ferraz | “Making steel bridges last longer with smarter materials”
The winner in the Focus Area of Future Materials and Technologies, Gonçalo Teixeira Ferraz, also emphasises the role of research in shaping everyday life: “My thesis on steel bridges and European design standards shows how research can directly support new technologies and shape the rules engineers follow to keep everyday infrastructure safe”.
Ferraz’s project focuses on making steel bridges more durable, affordable, and sustainable with advanced materials. The study demonstrates that hot-dip galvanised steel and innovative hybrid stainless–carbon steel solutions can significantly reduce both maintenance needs and life-cycle costs. The project aims to support engineers and public authorities across Europe to build safer and longer-lasting infrastructure, with less disruption and lower expense. Ferraz believes that storytelling can help make research more widely known so it can have a greater impact.
" Good communication turns complex data into smart decisions. Condensing my thesis into a clear story helped me focus on the audience and the real-world impact. "
Gonçalo Teixeira Ferraz from KU Leuven
Reflections and what's next for our winners
Participation in the Una Europa PhD Impact Award challenged our winners to view their research not just as an academic pursuit, but as a catalyst for collaboration, policy change, and social improvement. Ultimately, the value of research extends beyond numbers in a table or the conclusions of a paper, when the goal is to inspire people across the globe.
" A young woman in Cameroon may never read my scientific paper. She may, however, listen to a story, a peer or relate to a photo. Participating in the PhD Impact Award changed my perspective on my research. It made me drop the big science words and talk like I do with the girls I work with. It showed me that impact is beyond numbers. "
Prudence Tatiana Nti Mvilongo, KU Leuven.
The Award winners will present their inspiring projects to our alliance community at the Una Europa PhD Impact Award Ceremony taking place on 17 November at KU Leuven. We congratulate our winners on their achievement and wish them the best of luck with their presentations later this month!
As Una Europa looks to the future, our three winners exemplify how doctoral research – when clearly communicated and grounded in real-world needs – can build bridges, save lives, empower communities, and inspire hope across continents.
Photo credit cover image: Ed Wingate
The Una Europa PhD Impact Competition is part of Una Europa for Society, initiated under the Una.Futura project.
