The European Commission has announced the appointment of six leading scientists, along with the renewal of one current member, to the Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC)
The new members of the scientific council will begin their four-year terms on 1 January 2026, replacing those whose second terms have concluded. One member will also extend his service for an extra year, ensuring continuity within the governing body.
These appointments strengthen the ERC’s leadership as it continues to support frontier research in Europe. The Scientific Council plays a crucial role in shaping the ERC’s scientific strategy and maintaining its focus on excellence across all research domains.
Six new members bring diverse expertise
The newly appointed scientific council members come from a wide range of scientific disciplines, reflecting the ERC’s commitment to supporting broad, cutting-edge research.
Eleftheria Zeggini, a specialist in translational genomics and precision medicine, joins from the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the TUM School of Medicine and Health. Her work centres on understanding the genetic basis of complex diseases and translating these discoveries into clinical applications.
Emmanuelle Charpentier, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 2020, becomes another addition. Based at the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens and Humboldt University in Berlin, her research investigates the molecular mechanisms that govern bacterial infection and immunity, advancing knowledge with global scientific impact.
Karin Roelofs, from Radboud University in the Netherlands, brings expertise in cognitive neuroscience and experimental psychopathology. Her research examines the neural mechanisms underlying emotion regulation, stress resilience, and social behaviour, helping to show how individuals cope with adversity and threat.
Katerina Kralova, of Charles University in Prague and the Vienna Wiesenthal Institute, contributes deep knowledge of post-war European history. Her work focuses on Jewish repatriation to Greece, Greek-German reconciliation processes, and the reconstruction of Jewish communities across Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe.
Michel Campillo, affiliated with institutions including the Université de Grenoble and MIT, is recognised for his work on earthquake processes and seismic wave propagation. His research enhances the scientific community’s understanding of tectonic activity and the Earth’s internal structure.
Susana Narotzky, from the University of Barcelona, is an anthropologist whose work explores social reproduction and socioecological inequality. Her studies shed light on how communities navigate economic pressure, environmental challenges, and shifting social structures.
One member’s term extended.
The Commission has also renewed the term of Giovanni Sartor, who serves at the University of Bologna and the European University Institute in Florence. His expertise covers legal theory, logic, artificial intelligence, and technology law. The one-year extension allows him to continue contributing his interdisciplinary knowledge to the Council’s work.
The pillar of European research
Created in 2007, the ERC has become a central pillar of European science, supporting high-risk, high-reward research across all disciplines. Its grants are awarded solely on the basis of scientific excellence, attracting talent from both within and outside Europe.
The Scientific Council, composed of 22 distinguished scientists and scholars, is responsible for defining the ERC’s funding strategy and ensuring that its programmes remain at the forefront of global research. Under the leadership of ERC President Maria Leptin, the Council continues to refine the organisation’s vision and uphold its commitment to groundbreaking discovery.
With the arrival of these new members, the ERC is set to strengthen its scientific direction further and support innovative research across Europe in the years ahead.
