Prof Dr Horia Leonard Banciu, a faculty member of the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology within the Faculty of Biology and Geology at Babes-Bolyai University (UBB) in Cluj-Napoca, has been nominated to represent Romania for the 2025 UNESCO Carlos J. Finlay Prize for Microbiology (https://www.unesco.org/en/prizes/carlos-j-finlay).
"The international distinction, a benchmark for excellence in research and innovation in microbiology, is awarded biennially by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and bears the name of Cuban microbiologist Carlos Juan Finlay, who discovered the aetiological agent of yellow fever. The prize recognises discoveries, scientific contributions and achievements with a major impact on society and public health," UBB said in a press release sent on Thursday.
According to the university, the nomination acknowledges Prof Banciu's outstanding scientific career devoted to the study of microbiology in extreme environments. His research has focused in particular on Romania's salt lakes, which he has established as internationally relevant model systems, thereby placing Romania on the global research map in this field..
"Through the discovery and description of new microorganisms, as well as by integrating classical microbiological approaches with modern methods, Prof Banciu has made a significant contribution to understanding the diversity, adaptation and biogeochemical role of microorganisms in saline and permanently stratified aquatic ecosystems. At the same time, his work has played a decisive role in strengthening prestigious international collaboration networks such as the Extreme Microbiome Project (XMP), PELAGICS and the Halophile Sequencing Project (HSP), which are involved in major initiatives in microbial genetic sequencing and ecogenomic initiatives," the release adds.
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