Hygienic Study Award

Winners HSA 2024

We are pleased about the numerous applications and the large variety of exciting research topics in the field of hygienic production, processing and design! After reviewing all submissions, we congratulate the winners of the HSA 2024 on behalf of the committee of the Hygienic Study Award:

1. Maria Ioanna Malliaroudaki (University of Nottingham)

»Shaping the future of dairy manufacturing and distribution using energy consumption models«

2. Theresa Kauer (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences)

»The development and characterisation of a microorganism-free biofilm imitation«

3. Anja Baumgärtner (Hochschule Weihenstephan-Triesdorf)

»Resistance modification of potential surrogate organisms for Aspergillus brasiliensis DSM 1988 for validation of UV-based disinfection systems«

(Downloads coming soon)

Award for outstanding scientific work in the field of hygienic processing and design

As part of the global "Hygienic Engineering Community", science and research make an important contribution to continuous development in the field of hygienic processing and to a safer food production on a global scale.

We want to promote science and research in the field of hygienic processing and to connect students with industry.

Since 2009, the Hygienic Study Award has recognized young researchers for their outstanding, innovative work in the relevant scientific fields. Their research results and the knowledge gained from their research create important added value for the worldwide promotion of hygienic design. At the same time, in conjunction with the award, the young scientists gain greater insight into the practical relevance of their research work, potential applications, and the needs of industry.

The Hygienic Study Award is a joint award of the Fraunhofer IVV, the European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) and the Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Maschinenbaues mbH a subsidiary of the VDMA e.V..

An international jury, consisting of representatives from various universities and research institutions as well as leading industrial companies, evaluate the applications.

HSA 2025/26

We look forward to receiving your diploma, bachelor, master and doctoral theses as well as studies in the field of

hygienic design of machinery and buildings
fouling, cleaning and disinfection
food-contact materials, surface design, fluid mechanics, and food safety
sustainable and resilient food processes
or related topics

Application

Download the application form and send it together with your thesis and an extended abstract in English (approximately 6 pages + list of references) to the organizers at the Fraunhofer IVV (hsa@ivv-dd.fraunhofer.de).

The submitted work should not be older than three years and will be evaluated by an international jury. Participation is free of charge.

Submission deadline & selection procedure

The next application period starts in October, 2024.

The jury will evaluate all entries and select the winners.

The HSA 2024 will be awarded to the winners at the EHEDG World Congress in Nantes on 2 - 3 October 2024. The winners of the upcoming awards will be announced in due course.

Evaluation criteria

Thematic complexity, degree of innovation, feasibility, methodology and scientific approach as well as comprehensibility and layout of the paper will be evaluated. Data protection is guaranteed.

Don't miss your chance to win a prize in your field of experience!

Are you wondering if you should apply for the Hygienic Study Award? Dr. Elena Zand, 3rd place winner of the Hygienic Study Award 2023, talks about her application in this interview with Dr. Marc Mauermann. Her answer: "I can't think of a reason not to!"

Winners 2023

1. Dr. Heni Dallagi (University of Lille)

Dissertation abstract »Numerical and experimental investigations of the rheological behavior of foam flow:
Application to the cleaning of surfaces contaminated by microorganisms in the food industries«

2. Dipl.-Ing. Wolf Freiherr Marschall (Technical University Dresden)

Diploma thesis abstract »Identification of cleaning mechanism using machine learning methods«

3. Dr. Elena Zand (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Austria)

Dissertation abstract »Emerging concepts for monitoring and control of hygienic food production«

and

Dr. Alejandro Avila-Sierra (University of Birmingham)

Dissertation abstract »DEVELOPMENT OF A NANOTECHNOLOGY INFORMED CLEAN-IN-PLACE STRATEGY: Effect of interfacial characteristics on milk fouling and cleaning mechanisms«

Winners 2021

1. Dr. Hannes Köhler (Technical University Dresden, Germany)

Dissertation abstract »Method for the analysis, modelling and optimisation of cleaning processes with
an impinging coherent liquid jet«

2. Dr. Georgina Cuckston (University of Cambridge, UK)

Dissertation abstract »Methods for detailed study of detergent action in cleaning food soils«

3. Dr. Felix Schottroff (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Austria)

Dissertation abstract »Tailoring electrotechnologies for microbial inactivation in food and
bioprocess engineering – Inactivation mechanisms, processing
concepts, and equipment design«

Award ceremony

The winners of the HSA 2024 will be announced at the EHEDG World Congress in Nantes, October 2-3, 2024.