Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II’s travel grant to students at Aarhus University 2020

Charlotte Marie Brühe Jensen, Master's degree student in archaeology, School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University

Charlotte Marie Brühe Jensen received top marks for her bachelor's project entitled ’Fyrstelige kulinariske netværk i europæisk senmiddelalder: et arkæologisk studie i Henrik Harpestrengs kogebog og dens relation mellem Danmark og det øvrige Europa’ (princely culinary networks in late medieval Europe: an archaeological study on Henrik Harpestreng’s cookbook and its relationship between Denmark and the rest of Europe). Charlotte Marie Brühe Jensen plans to pursue this topic further with an internship at the well-preserved historical kitchen at Seligenstadt Monastery in Germany as part of her preparation for her Master's thesis about historical kitchens and European food culture.

Charlotte Marie Brühe Jensen is a hard-working student full of initiative who is actively involved in the study environment and in various academic projects. In spring 2020, she participated in the development of a collaboration project between researchers from the school and the Øhavsmuseet Faaborg museum on research strategies at the medieval village. This has given her the opportunity to discuss academic issues with archaeologists from cultural history museums and other academic environments. In connection with the collaboration, she helped write an article.

Maria Søgaard-Nielsen, Master’s degree student in political science, Department of Political Science, Aarhus University

Maria Søgaard-Nielsen is one of the top students at her department, and she is very determined, dedicated and committedMaria Søgaard-Nielsen has been particularly interested in social science methods within international politics and public leadership, and she has received unusually high marks in these fields. Her bachelor's project was about public leadership.

Maria Søgaard-Nielsen has combined her strong academic competencies and interests with relevant study work for Innovation Fund Denmark and Epinion, and she has been involved in a series of different academically relevant activities organised by Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey & Company and Bain & Company.

In spring 2021, Maria Søgaard-Nielsen will study international politics and social science methods at one of Australia's top universities: Deakin University. She is particularly interested in studying Human Rights in World Politics and will supplement this with methodological courses.

Sophia Thrane, Master's degree student in medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University

As a Master's degree student, Sophia Thrane has been working on a project on the development and treatment of antimicrobial multi-resistance in bacteria that infect the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis. These bacteria cause such serious damage to the lungs that they are often the cause of death for patients. In spring 2020, Sophia Thrane was part of Professor Jane C. Davies' research team at Imperial College London, one of the world's leading universities. As a student observer, she studied the activity and effect of the drug glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®) in pulmonary fluid from cystic fibrosis patients and had access to the National Heart and Lung Institute's cystic fibrosis centre at Royal Brompton Hospital.

Sophia Thrane is an important participant in this project, the purpose of which is to develop a medical treatment for a problem with no existing satisfactory treatment. Her contribution has moved the project forwards profoundly, and she has returned from her stay at Imperial College with considerable insight into research on severe airway disorders and state-of-the-art treatment. In future, Sophia Thrane wants to improve her skills within this field of research.

Dina Sofia Mortensen, Master's degree student in astronomy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University

Dina Sofia Mortensen is an excellent student with a keen curiosity and interest in immersing herself in her studies. Her Master's thesis was about demonstrating exoplanets revolving around a particular class of stars. Dina Sofia Mortensen applied a previously unused approach that could potentially lead to extremely interesting planet discoveries.

Dina Sofia Mortensen's admirable involvement in the world of astronomy is also apparent in her previous role in which she organised work experience at the department for secondary school pupils in grades 8-10. In addition to her academic dedication, Dina Sofia Mortensen is also a committed student in other ways. This is reflected in her time as a student representative at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, her involvement in the maths-physics tutor group and her role on the board of the “Fysisk Fredagsbar” Friday bar. Dina Sofia Mortensen is a talented student, and she also allows herself to go beyond this.

The HM Queen Margrethe II Travel Grant will give Dina Sofia Mortensen the opportunity to participate in conferences on exoplanets, at which she can present the results of her Master's thesis project.