Student Earned Third at European Science Contest
Mykhailo Bilous secured a top finish for his neural network design at the event in Kiel, Germany.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Life Sciences
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Mykhailo Bilous took third place at the 37th European Union Contest for Young Scientists held in Germany. He received €3,500 for his work on PhagoRix, a neural network designed for antibiotic development.
Why it matters
The competition highlights emerging research from young scientists, offering a platform for students to present innovations to international experts. It encourages global collaboration and honors students who develop practical solutions to complex medical and technical problems.
The competition included 150 researchers from nearly 40 countries assessed by an international jury of 20-25 experts. Mykhailo Bilous developed the PhagoRix project with his teacher, Viktoriia Holovan.
The players
Mykhailo Bilous
He is a student from Kyiv, Ukraine, who won third place for his research project.
Polina Yursul
She is a student who presented a portable gesture recognition device at the event.
Viktoriia Holovan
She is a teacher who collaborated with Mykhailo Bilous on his research project.
The details
Mykhailo Bilous earned his placement through the development of PhagoRix, a neural network built to assist in antibiotic design. Fellow student Polina Yursul also participated in the event, presenting a portable device for gesture recognition.
Timeline
The European Union Contest for Young Scientists has run annually since 1994.
The 37th edition of the competition took place in September 2026.
The Big Picture
This event follows the established pattern of the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in identifying and rewarding early-career scientific talent. The competition continues to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical innovation by connecting students with international experts.
The recognition of antibiotic design tools like PhagoRix could signal future shifts in how researchers utilize neural networks to expedite drug discovery. Such innovations may eventually lead to more efficient development of treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The takeaway
Supporting young researchers provides a glimpse into the next generation of scientific advancements. Students can look to these winners as examples of how to combine academic study with impactful technology development.
Further reading
Explore more innovative research at the Life Sciences section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Українська правда.
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