News

A passion for science and a sincere care for people – these are the qualities that perfectly describe Erikas Tarvydas, an alumnus of the Faculty of Physics at Vilnius University (VU). For several years now, he has successfully balanced physics, paramedic work, volunteering, and hobbies. This year he graduated with top honours in physics, and in September, he will begin his studies at the VU Faculty of Medicine.

‘Physics is an old science, there’s so much to do here. The most difficult part is choosing exactly what,’ jokes Vilnius University (VU) scientist Prof Gediminas Gaigalas. His theories and atomic calculation programs are essentially unrivalled. Very often, complex physics projects are simply impossible without his contributions. The latest example is an international study that has finally explained an anomaly that has troubled scientists for many years.

From 27 to 30 June, Vilnius University hosted a Workshop on Unconventional Optical Lattices (UOL2025), organised by VU Faculty of Physics.

Dominyka Stonytė successfully defended her PhD thesis "Ultrashort UV pulse-material interaction for laser microfabrication applications."

Last week, Vilnius University (VU) hosted the International School on Trigger and Data Acquisition ISOTDAQ2025. The event, based on the expertise of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), brought together nearly one hundred participants.

On 26–27 June, during a visit to Vilnius University (VU) by a delegation from France’s Sorbonne University, its President, Prof. Nathalie Drach-Temam, was presented with a printed replica of the Sorbonne University Chapel, which appears as a mere dust particle to the naked eye. The special gift was created by Dr Gordon Zyla, a senior researcher at the Laser Research Center of the VU Faculty of Physics and a former Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow.

Vilnius University (VU) has been ranked 446th in the newly released QS World University Rankings – its position among the top global institutions assessed from nearly 7,000 universities across 106 countries, marking the most comprehensive edition in the ranking’s history. VU retains its status as the top university in Lithuania.

From 23 to 27 June, the Vilnius Town Hall will host the Central European Workshop on Quantum Optics (CEWQO), organised by Vilnius University (VU) and the Lithuanian Physical Society. This significant international conference will bring together over 200 scientists, researchers, and experts in quantum technologies.

On 17 June, the graduation ceremony of the VU Faculty of Physics took place at the Church of St. John's.

Scientists from Vilnius University (VU) Faculty of Physics, together with colleagues from Poland and other countries, have identified an exoplanet – a gas giant located far from the Galactic Centre. This is only the third such discovery in the entire history of observations. The discovery is even more exceptional due to the method used – the phenomenon known as microlensing. The results of the observations have been published in one of the most prestigious astronomy journals “Astronomy & Astrophysics”.

Vilnius University (VU) hosts an international school on trigger and data acquisition ISOTDAQ2025 on June 17-26, 2025. Around one hundred participants from different countries will attend the event that shares experience from the European organization for nuclear research (CERN).

The graduation season is just around the corner, when St Johns’ Church and other venues chosen for the official diploma-awarding ceremonies will be filled with the joyful bustle of graduates. As we approach this celebration, please be reminded that you are welcome to wear a VU cap during the ceremony.

Dr Mindaugas Šarpis, a researcher at the Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University (VU), and leader of the LHCb Vilnius group, has been awarded a prestigious ERA Fellowship grant under Horizon Europe funding programme for his postdoctoral research. The funding, amounting to almost 200,000 Eur will strengthen Lithuania’s competences in particle physics and lay the foundations for further research at VU.

We are pleased to invite the graduates of the Faculty of Physics, their relatives and members of our faculty community to the graduation ceremony.

Arqus is glad to launch a joint call for Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) and a call for Arqus Twinning 2.0 projects. These two calls are aimed at academic staff to reinforce the collaboration between the members of the Alliance and to propose short-term mobility opportunities for students and staff.

Lithuania stands out globally for its rapidly developing light technology industry, with lasers playing a key role in this important ecosystem. The laser infrastructure at Vilnius University’s (VU) Faculty of Physics is equally renowned for its international outlook and open science practices. Long-standing collaboration between the academic community and industry here drives innovative solutions.

For her contributions to astrophysical science and the development of astrospectroscopy, initiation of exoplanet research in Lithuania, dissemination of knowledge on the understanding of the Universe, and for promoting the name of Lithuania in the world, she was awarded with the Ignotas Domeika Medal and became an honorary member of the Lithuanian Ignotas Domeika Society.