LExA – Leadership Excellence Award in Research

LExA – Leadership Excellence Award in Research 2026

For the fourth time, the LBG Career Center presented the Leadership Excellence Award in Research (LExA). Two outstanding leaders in the Austrian research landscape were honored in the “Emerging Leaders” and “Experienced Leaders” categories for their leadership expertise in academia.

Scientific excellence requires good leadership: Leaders in research are not only responsible for scientific outcomes, but also for their teams and the development of early-career researchers.

“Good science requires not just brilliant ideas, but also good working conditions and leadership that takes responsibility. Those who lead research teams shape working conditions and help determine how people are able to do their work. With LExA, we honor leaders who advance science together with their teams. This benefits not only the researchers themselves, but ultimately society as a whole. I warmly congratulate this year’s award winners!”, said Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research.

The Winners of LExA 2026

Emerging Leader – Prof. Dr. Sandra Diller
Associate Professor of Organizational Psychology at Seeburg Castle University, Research Affiliate at the IOC Harvard Medical School, and coach and trainer for LMU Munich.

In its decision, the jury particularly emphasized her pursuit of scientific excellence combined with an ethics- and values-oriented approach. Her innovative leadership tools and international network were also highlighted. Her impact is reflected not only in scientific achievements, but above all in the careers, skills, and self-understanding of those who grow under her leadership.

Experienced Leader – Prof. Dr. phil. Marina Gržinić-Mauhler
Philosopher and Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, as well as Researcher at the Institute of Philosophy at the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU) in Ljubljana.

Gržinić-Mauhler was recognized above all for the exceptionally appreciative nomination submitted by her team and her compelling leadership approach—characterized by lived research practices rather than standardized leadership tools. Furthermore, the jury was impressed by her high level of integrity and intellectual excellence. She actively amplifies marginalized voices and serves as a positive role model, encouraging her team to make courageous, socially relevant contributions to broader public discourse and interdisciplinary artistic-scientific work.

Leadership Excellence Award in Research 2025

Leadership Excellence Award in Research 2025 – Leading with Perspective

For the third time, the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft Career Center honored exceptional leadership in research with the Leadership Excellence Award in Research (LExA) – presented as part of the LBG XChange.

This year’s awards were presented by Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research, and Freyja-Maria Smolle-Jüttner, President of the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft.

The award recognizes scientific leaders who not only achieve research excellence but also inspire, empower and develop their teams – setting new standards for leadership in science.

The 2025 Awardees

Emerging Leader – Priv.-Doz. Dr. Mario Rothbauer, MSc
Research Group Leader, Orthopedic Microsystems Group, Medical University of Vienna & TU Wien

Dr. Rothbauer was honored for his clear goal setting, his ability to recognize and foster the individual strengths of his team members, and his open, humorous leadership style. His constructive approach to mistakes and commitment to creating a culture of trust and learning particularly impressed the jury.

Meet Mario Rothbauer and his team in our video below.

Experienced Leader – Assoc. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ian Teasdale, PhD
Head of the Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Johannes Kepler University Linz

Prof. Teasdale was recognized for his exceptional empathy and his ability to motivate others to grow beyond themselves. His clear vision, strong mentoring spirit, and active support for his colleagues’ career development make him an inspiring role model for leadership in research.

Discover Ian Teasdale and his team in our video below.

Inspiring Leadership Beyond the Awards

The evening also featured a captivating keynote by Dr. Hans Rusinek, business ethicist and researcher at the University of St. Gallen, titled “Hope Leads Further.”
As a pracademic working at the intersection of research and practice, Dr. Rusinek explored how meaningful work and responsible leadership can foster hope, innovation, and human connection in times of uncertainty.

Leadership that Shapes Science

With the LExA, the LBG Career Center highlights the importance of leadership as a key scientific competence. Since its launch in 2023, the award has evolved into a broader initiative — inspiring institutions and researchers alike to engage with the question: What does excellent leadership in science look like?

Through the newly established LExA Circle and a forthcoming study based on the nominations, the Career Center continues to promote dialogue, reflection, and the professionalization of leadership across Austria’s research landscape.

On September 26, 2024, the Career Center of the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft presented the Leadership Excellence Award in Research (LExA) for the second time. This award recognizes outstanding and innovative leadership in research and science.

This award is a crucial addition to existing research awards, and it will undoubtedly elevate the visibility of leadership in the scientific community. This year’s Leadership Excellence Awards in Research (LExA) were presented at the LBG XChange event in Vienna’s Leopold Museum together with the Federal Minister of Education, Science and Research, Martin Polaschek.

The LExA honors outstanding leaders who make significant contributions to solving social challenges and serve as role models for young scientists in their leadership roles. This year, the jury has made the decision to honor outstanding leaders in two categories for the first time. There are two categories: “Emerging Leaders” and “Experienced Leaders.” This guarantees better comparability of the different leadership levels.

The Leadership Excellence Award in Research in the “Emerging Leader” category was presented in 2024 to Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Julia Reisinger, BSc., is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Structural and Industrial Engineering at the Vienna University of Technology and the co-founder of Factorymaker, a start-up. In the “Experienced Leader” category, Univ.-Prof Mag. Dr. Sabine Theresia Köszegi, Head of the Institute of Management Sciences and Head of the Department of Ergonomics and Organization at the Vienna University of Technology, received the award.

We congratulate the winners and thank their teams for their nominations.

This was LExA 2023

The truly remarkable thing about LExA? All the nominees were nominated by their teams. Some time ago, we asked our esteemed finalists and their teams how they believe excellent leadership in research makes a difference. Here’s what they had to say

LExA Award Winner – Eva Reininghaus

Elevating Leadership Excellence: The LExA Award 2023

On September 27, 2023 at the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft Xchange we revealed the winner of the first LExA Award. It is with immense pride and excitement that we introduce this year’s LExA Award winner – Eva Reininghaus, head of the University Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at Medizinische Universität Graz, Austria!

Eva Reininghaus has not only displayed exceptional leadership skills but has also been at the forefront of innovation and excellence in her field. Her unwavering dedication to her work and her ability to lead a team of 120 employees has earned her this well-deserved recognition.
The LExA Award, which stands for Leadership Excellence Award in Research, acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities that have had a significant positive impact on their organizations and beyond. Professor Reininghaus’s leadership has been an inspiration to all of us, and her commitment to excellence serves as a shining example for future leaders.
The fact that she was nominated by her own team speaks volumes about the respect and admiration she has garnered from her colleagues. It is a testament to her ability to foster a collaborative and empowering work environment, where individuals are encouraged to thrive and contribute their best.
Join us in congratulating Eva Reininghaus on this remarkable achievement! Her dedication to advancing the field of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, and her exceptional leadership skills, have undoubtedly made a lasting impact.