15 September 2026
Through their doctoral theses, Laura Helleckes and Felix Bauer have made significant contributions to biotechnology and plant research, respectively. They have each been awarded the 2026 Jülich Excellence Prize in recognition of their outstanding scientific achievements.
Research is typically a lengthy process - yet significant results can also be achieved within a limited timeframe, as demonstrated by the doctoral theses of researchers Dr.-Ing. Laura Helleckes and Dr.-Ing. Felix Bauer. Helleckes, a biotechnologist at the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences - Biotechnology (IBG-1), developed AI-based methods to optimize biotechnological processes. She used these methods, for example, to search for microorganisms that could make the biodegradation of plastic more efficient. The automated experiments and AI analyses she developed could help accelerate the establishment of sustainable processes using bio-based raw materials. Bauer, an agricultural scientist at the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences - Agrosphere (IBG-3), investigated how plant roots respond to water or nutrient deficiencies. To this end, he developed an automated method for analysing photographs of roots. This method has since become the standard in his field of research. His findings have provided new insights into previously hidden processes in the soil and could help to better adapt crops to the challenges of climate change.
In awarding the 2026 Jülich Excellence Prize to the two researchers, the prize committee highlighted that Bauer had made important contributions to plant research, while Helleckes had helped close gaps in biotechnological process development. "I hadn't expected it at all, as my application was submitted quite some time ago. I was therefore all the more delighted to receive the prize," says Helleckes (31). Her colleague, who is the same age, felt much the same: "I was really surprised. It's a fantastic award that will give my research career a real boost."
Root observations and robotic experiments
In his research, Bauer investigated how insights into root systems can support agriculture, plant breeding, and adaptation to climate change. "A plant absorbs nutrients and water through its roots, which is why they play a crucial role in growth and yield," says Bauer. As roots grow in the soil, they are difficult to study. Bauer solved this problem by inserting cameras into transparent tubes in the soil to photograph the root network. This produced hundreds of thousands of images. "Previously, they were all analysed by hand - which took ages," says Bauer. His new AI-based analysis method is around a hundred times faster than previous approaches. "Using the data, we can better understand, for example, how crops respond to climate change. This knowledge can then be used, for instance, to breed climate-resilient varieties," says Bauer. Among other things, he discovered that even a slight phosphorus deficiency significantly reduces the water uptake capacity of maize roots. Phosphorus is a limited resource that is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. According to Bauer, his research findings have therefore played a role in the development of resource-efficient, high-yielding agriculture.
Dr.-Ing. Felix Bauer on his research and his thoughts on the Excellence Award. | Copyright: Forschungszentrum Jülich / Jenö Gellinek
The research of Laura Helleckes, meanwhile, focused on the question of how biotechnological processes can be optimized. The processes involved utilize microorganisms, enzymes, and other biological building blocks to produce specific chemicals or materials, for example, or to break down substances. The problem is that for every biotechnological process, there are countless possible combinations of starting materials and experimental conditions, such as temperature or pH. "Testing all of them experimentally is practically impossible," says Helleckes. "My doctoral degree therefore focused on automating experiments and simulating biotechnological processes on a computer to speed up process development." To this end, she developed AI algorithms that plan experiments, evaluate results, and suggest new experiments. The laboratory work is carried out by automated robotic systems. In this way, the processes can be optimized much more quickly. In initial practical applications, Helleckes was able to use this approach to improve the production of plastic-degrading enzymes and to make the recycling of valuable biochemical reaction products more efficient.
Dr.-Ing. Laura Helleckes on her research and her thoughts on the Excellence Prize. | Copyright: Forschungszentrum Jülich / Jenö Gellinek
Research for greater sustainability
Despite their different research focuses, the two researchers are united by a desire to contribute to a more sustainable future through their work. "I am fascinated by the fact that sustainable products can be manufactured using natural components such as microorganisms and enzymes," says Helleckes. Through her work, she aims to make such biotechnological processes more efficient and resource-friendly. Bauer, too, is driven by the societal relevance of his research: "Plants are at the start of our food chain and are among our most important resources," he says. "Through my research, I aim to make crop cultivation not only more efficient but also more sustainable." While Helleckes works at Imperial College London and plans to set up a young investigator group soon, Bauer continues to conduct his research as a postdoc at Jülich.
The prize committee particularly praised the scientific quality and impact of both doctoral theses. Helleckes, the committee noted, has made significant progress towards autonomous bioprocess development through her automated experiments and AI models. Bauer, meanwhile, has made crucial advances in plant sciences by combining different methods, datasets, and models. The committee also highlighted the exceptionally high quality and scope of the researchers' scientific publications. "We are proud of the outstanding achievements of our young scientists and are pleased to provide them an environment at Forschungszentrum Jülich where they can turn their ideas into excellent research. We are particularly pleased that both prize-winners are continuing their scientific careers. We wish them every success for the future," said Prof. Dr. Astrid Lambrecht, Chair of the Board of Directors of Forschungszentrum Jülich and a member of the selection committee.
We are proud of the outstanding achievements of our young scientists and are pleased to provide them an environment at Forschungszentrum Jülich where they can turn their ideas into excellent research. We are particularly pleased that both prize-winners are continuing their scientific careers. We wish them every success for the future.
About the Excellence Prize
Since 2009, Forschungszentrum Jülich has awarded the Excellence Prize for outstanding scientific achievements in early career phases. The prize recognizes researchers who earned summa cum laude for their doctoral theses and whose subsequent work made a significant contribution to scientific progress at Forschungszentrum Jülich. The nominations are evaluated by an international committee consisting of the Chair of the Board of Directors, members of the Scientific Advisory Council (SAC), and the chair of the Scientific and Technical Council (WTR). The decision is based on the originality and innovative value of the research, its international visibility, and how convincingly the candidates present themselves and their work.
