Researcher Spotlight 2026

Extraordinary personalities and their achievements

watch video

Researcher Spotlight: Monta Brīvība

Dr. biol. Monta Brīvība 

Head of the Genome Centre at the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (National Institute of Research and Innovation)

watch video

Join the Diaspora Scientists Database

Latvia’s Diaspora Scientists Database Unites Researchers Worldwide

 

Find out more

researchLatvia: Your Gateway to Latvia's Science

Science creates, surprises and drives forward

find out more
  • 1 from

research in Latvia

research spotlight

CERN

Drive carefully! Scientists will attempt to transport antimatter by car for the first time

That would be quite an exclusive courier service if this European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) experiment succeeds. Soon, for the first time, antimatter will be transported by car within CERN's territory. This is no simple task, because whenever any antiparticle comes into contact with …

Delfi Campus

March 18, 2026

research

Saving humanity by combing bees – LVMI “Silava” scientists explain how they study pollinator diversity

Environmental engineer Santa Ieviņa from the Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava" (LSFRI "Silava") has prepared a popular science article within the framework of the Latvian Council of Science-supported project Forest roads as multifunctional ecosystems: biodiversity, ecosyste…

Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava"

March 18, 2026

research science communication

How Researcher Velga Polinska Is Changing Attitudes Toward Easy Language

"Easy language is not an alternative to literature – it works like glasses for those with poor eyesight," emphasises University of Latvia (UL) researcher Velga Polinska, who in November represented Latvia in an international science communication competition in France, presenting her research on ea…

Ieva Lazdiņa |Editor of the University of Latvia publication "Alma Mater"

March 17, 2026

research space international collaboration

University of Latvia launches the European Commission’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service National Collaboration Programme in Latvia

At the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) of the University of Latvia (UL), the implementation of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service National Collaboration Programme (CAMS NCP) in Latvia has been launched. This initiative is …

Faculty of Science and Technology

March 17, 2026

researcher science communication

March Research Spotlight Žanete Šteingolde: Understanding the Link Between Animal, Human and Environmental Health

As Head of the Microbiology and Pathology Laboratory at the BIOR Institute, Mg. med. vet. Žanete Šteingolde works at the intersection of animal, environmental and public health, advancing research grounded in the One Health approach. Her work focuses on infectious diseases in animals, includin…

researchLatvia

March 16, 2026

innovation

Latvia Among World Leaders in Deep Tech Innovation: 7th on the Hello Tomorrow Radar

Latvia is increasingly asserting its place in the global science-based innovation landscape. International deep technology platforms Hello Tomorrow published in 2026 Global Deep Tech Pioneers Radar The report ranks Latvia 7th in the world for the number of deep tech start-ups per capita. This resul…

Renāte Franke | BioPhoT

March 16, 2026

research research

How Can Electrical Resistance Reveal Fake Honey?

Honey is one of the most frequently adulterated food products in the world. At first glance, it may appear flawless – golden, fragrant, and enticing – yet it is often diluted with inexpensive sugar syrups derived from sugar beet or corn. Such adulteration is nearly impossible to detect by sight or …

University of Latvia Foundation

March 13, 2026

science policy

Saeima approves modern accreditation model to improve quality in higher education

On Thursday, 12 March, the Saeima approved amendments to the Law on Higher Education Institutions and the Law on Education, proposed by the Ministry of Education and Science. The changes envisage a transition from accreditation of study fields to cyclical accreditation of higher education instituti…

Ministry of Education and Science

March 13, 2026

research

Science for Life: New Infrastructure for Bioeconomy Research

What do cosmetic cream, home insulation foam and plywood have in common? All of these products can use compounds derived from birch bark. Researchers at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, working together with industrial partners, are investigating how these natural compounds can be tra…

Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC)

March 12, 2026

research

Researchers of the Latvian Academy of Culture have developed a report on the legal and policy framework for crafts in Europe.

A research team from the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) has prepared the report “Report on Legal and Policy Frameworks of Crafts in Europe: Approaches at the National Level” within the international research project “Transforming Craft Knowledge into Sustainable, Inclusive and Economically Viable…

Latvian Academy of Culture

March 12, 2026

upcoming events

Conference

The 68th International Scientific Conference of Daugavpils University

2026-04-09

All day

Daugavpils Universitāte

Online event

Online training on preparing applications for the 2026 call of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

2026-04-13

All day

Online

Lecture

Lecture “From Excellence to Impact: How to Plan Meaningful Research”

2026-04-14

9:00 am

UL House of Science, Alfa Auditorium

Lecture

Open Lecture: “Novel Food and Genetically Modified Organisms“

2026-04-15

9:00 am

LU Dabas māja, Jelgavas iela 1, Rīga

top videos

April Researcher Spotlight: Monta Brīvība

Dr. biol. Monta Brīvība is Head of the Genome Centre and Researcher in the Precision Medicine Group at the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre. At the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, genome research drives Monta Brīvība's efforts to understand how genetic variation shapes human health. As Head of the Genome Centre and researcher in the Precision Medicine Group, she explores how genomic data can reveal disease risks and support the development of more accurate, personalised healthcare. BMC is one of the centres established by the National Research and Innovation Institute (NIRI), promoting excellence in biomedical research.

watch video

March Researcher Spotlight: Žanete Šteingolde

Mg. med. vet. Žanete Šteingolde is Head of the Microbiology and Pathology Laboratory at the Institute "BIOR", working at the intersection of animal, environmental and public health, developing research based on the "One Health" approach. Her work focuses on animal infectious diseases, including zoonoses, combining laboratory diagnostics with epidemiological analysis. The researcher participates in a European co-funded international "One Health" surveillance project, studying diseases that affect both animals and humans – including West Nile fever, which was detected in Latvia for the first time in 2024.

watch video

February Researcher Spotlight: Edgars Kuka

Ph. D. Edgars Kuka, Researcher at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry. Edgars Kuka is a researcher at the Wood Degradation and Protection Laboratory of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry.

His work is dedicated to understanding how various environmental factors, including moisture, microorganisms, and solar radiation, affect the properties of wood materials and how innovative solutions can extend their service life, making the use of biomaterials broader and more sustainable. His research promotes more efficient use and protection of wood as an environmentally friendly material.

watch video

statistics at a glance

stay tuned

#researchLatvia newsletter to inspire you with research news, collaboration opportunities, outstanding articles and more