EUniWell announces 11 new Champions to advance well-being research across and beyond the Alliance
The EUniWell Champions Scheme invites senior researchers from EUniWell member universities to take on a leadership role in promoting the Alliance’s mission. Following the second Call for Expressions of Interest, 11 researchers have been selected to serve as ambassadors for the Alliance. Each Champion will receive funding of up to €15,000 to support activities over a six-month period between September 2026 and July 2027. These six months do not need to be consecutive, allowing each Champion to design a work plan that best fits their research objectives and ambitions.
As ambassadors for EUniWell, the Champions will promote interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthen connections between researchers across the Alliance, disseminate research outcomes related to well-being, and engage with Associated Partners, civil society, and policymakers in Europe and beyond. While their projects span a wide range of academic disciplines, they all contribute to EUniWell’s overarching mission of fostering well-being through research, education, and societal engagement.
The second cohort of EUniWell Champions
The 11 selected researchers are:
1. Daniel Śliż, Assistant Professor at the Medical University of Warsaw: to strengthen EUniWell’s institutional identity by developing shared standards for health and well-being through Lifestyle Medicine, fostering collaboration across the Alliance, and supporting the development of common well-being guidelines.
2. Elisabeth Lambert, Research Professor in Law at Nantes Université: to advance research on transforming legal instruments through human rights-based and capabilities-based approaches, promoting the well-being of individuals and communities through the development of innovative frameworks.
3. Judith Rauscher, Junior Professor of American Literature and Culture at the University of Cologne: to explore how literature can contribute to well-being through research, teaching, and collaborative reading initiatives, fostering dialogue on how books can positively shape people’s lives.
4. Katalin Fogarasi, Associate Professor at the Institute of Languages for Specific Purposes, Semmelweis University: to advance research at the intersection of language, medicine, and society, exploring how communication practices influence patient safety, clinical decision-making, and equitable access to healthcare.
5. María Teresa Carrillo de la Peña, Full Professor at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela: to transfer knowledge from chronic pain research to improve the quality of life of people living with chronic pain and raise awareness of the profound impact of chronic conditions on well-being.
6. Martina Kanning, Professor for Sport Science at the University of Konstanz: to advance research on integrated climate and physical activity strategies, identifying interventions that generate co-benefits for individual and planetary health while fostering collaboration across movement science, urban planning, transport, health, and education.
7. Mattias Lundin, Associate Professor at Linnaeus University: to raise awareness of well-being in education by investigating how exclusionary norms affect teachers’ professional lives and sense of belonging, while promoting more inclusive educational cultures.
8. Shahzaman Haque, Associate Professor of Urdu at Inalco: to investigate how the religious dimension of heritage language transmission shapes the identity, integration, and well-being of second- and third-generation Muslims of South Asian origin in Europe.
9. Sharafat Ali, Associate Professor in Glass Science and Technology at Linnaeus University: to build a visible interdisciplinary network focusing on waste glass containing heavy metals, circular materials strategies, environmental risk reduction, and societal well-being.
10. Stefano Clò, Associate Professor of Political Economy at the University of Florence: to analyse how public policy, market design, and collective action can support fair sustainability transitions, strengthening environmental quality, territorial resilience, and well-being in the face of environmental change.
11. Susana Martínez Rodríguez, Full Professor of Economic History at the University of Murcia: to advance research on women’s financial well-being by exploring how historical perspectives on financial agency can inform contemporary debates on gender equality, financial literacy, and economic autonomy.
In September, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela will host the kick-off meeting for the new EUniWell Champions.
Over the coming months, the Champions will develop initiatives that reflect their respective fields of expertise while contributing to EUniWell’s strategic priorities. Their activities are expected to increase the visibility of well-being research and strengthen the Alliance’s impact both within academia and across society.
With this second cohort, the EUniWell Champions Scheme further expands the network of senior researchers committed to promoting the Alliance’s values and advancing innovative approaches to well-being across Europe.
Further information on the EUniWell Champions Scheme
https://www.euniwell.eu/what-we-offer/euniwell-champions-scheme
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