On August 18, at the Kazickas family residence, the scholarship laureates were congratulated by Monika Zavistanavičiūtė, acting executive director of the Kazickas Family Foundation in Lithuania:
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“This scholarship is not only a financial incentive for you but also the Kazickas family’s recognition of your knowledge, great efforts, and perseverance with which you pursue the highest academic goals. We are delighted, for another year, to have such a diverse and impressive group of scholarship holders and to be able to contribute to your academic journey.”
The directions chosen by this year’s scholarship holders reflect a wide range of fields – from aerospace engineering and quantum technologies to astrophysics, biotechnology, and neuroscience. All laureates share not only academic achievements but also a desire to contribute their knowledge and experience to Lithuania’s progress in the future.
2026 STEM Scholarship Laureates:
- Rapolas Žygus – Bachelor’s studies in Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands;
- Mykolas Undzėnas – Bachelor’s studies in Psychology at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands;
- Roberta Lapkutė – Bachelor’s studies in Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom;
- Viktorija Karalkevičiūtė – Master’s studies in Biophysics, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium;
- Pijus Petkevičius – Master’s studies in Quantum Information Science at the University of Copenhagen and the Technical University of Denmark;
- Augustas Ukvalbergas – Bachelor’s studies in Engineering at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
Investment in Lithuania’s Future Creators
The Kazickas Family Foundation STEM scholarship program started in 2024. Over three years of the program, scholarships have been awarded to 19 young Lithuanian talents – 6 in the first year, 7 in the second, and another 6 students this year.
Each year, €50,000 is allocated for scholarships, and up to €10,000 can be awarded to each selected candidate to cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other study-related costs. The scholarship program provides the opportunity to study at the strongest foreign universities, gain international academic and professional experience, and use the acquired knowledge in the future for the development of Lithuanian science, technology, and innovation.
Six Paths to Future Science
Rapolas Žygus – the future of space technologies
Rapolas Žygus chose aerospace engineering studies at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. His interest in this field was strengthened by physics and astrophysics Olympiads, which encouraged him to link his future with exact sciences.
“My choice to study aerospace engineering was driven by a lifelong desire to understand how the world works and the technologies that shape it,” says Rapolas.
In the future, he aims to apply the knowledge he has gained in Lithuania and contribute to the growth of the country’s space sector.
“Having acquired solid knowledge in space engineering, I intend to bring this experience home and establish my own space technology company. My goal is to help prove that world-class space innovations can be created right here in Lithuania,” says the scholarship holder.
Mykolas Undzėnas – understanding the human mind and neurotechnology
Mykolas Undzėnas will study psychology at the University of Amsterdam. His academic path is connected with neuroscience and the goal of creating solutions to help people with cognitive impairments.
“When I was younger, I wanted to become a physicist or computer scientist, but after 8 years of acting and volunteering at a summer camp for people with intellectual disabilities, I realized that the mind has an inexplicable beauty and complexity,” says Mykolas.
In the future, he plans to return to Lithuania and contribute to the development of neurotechnology.
“After completing my studies, I intend to return to Lithuania and start developing neurotechnological treatment methods for memory disorders. I believe Lithuania has high-level talents that could make it a leading neurotechnology center in Europe, and I will be able to contribute to this goal,” says the scholarship holder.
Roberta Lapkutė – answers about the Universe and popularizing science
Roberta Lapkutė chose astrophysics studies at the University of Edinburgh. Her interest in science has been accompanied by astronomy and a desire to understand fundamental questions about the Universe since childhood.
“As a child, I spent hours exploring nature in my yard, and in the evenings before falling asleep, I liked to watch the stars. This curiosity grew with me, and at school, it was further strengthened by participating in the Young Astronomers’ gatherings at the Molėtai Observatory, the Young Biochemists’ School at Vilnius University, and reaching the national stage of the astronomy Olympiad. These experiences helped me understand that I want to seek answers to fundamental questions about the Universe and life within it,” says Roberta.
In the future, she aims to contribute to strengthening Lithuanian science and encourage young people, especially girls, to choose natural sciences and technology fields more boldly.
“I want more opportunities in Lithuania to explore astrophysics and astronomy, and for science to be more accessible to the public,” says the scholarship holder.
Viktorija Karalkevičiūtė – scientific research that can help understand diseases
Viktorija Karalkevičiūtė chose master’s studies in biophysics, biochemistry, and biotechnology at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. While studying in Lithuania, she began working in a laboratory researching neurodegenerative diseases.
“From the beginning of my third year, I started working in a laboratory studying proteins related to the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Encouraged by colleagues and friends in the lab, I began considering studying abroad,” says Viktorija.
In the future, she plans to return to Lithuania and continue scientific work here, bringing back the experience and connections gained abroad.
“I hope to bring back the accumulated experience and established connections to Lithuania and return as a more experienced scientist capable of developing less developed research areas in Lithuania and contributing to closer collaboration between scientists and patients,” says the scholarship holder.
Pijus Petkevičius – the potential of quantum technologies
Pijus Petkevičius studies quantum information science at the University of Copenhagen and the Technical University of Denmark. He came to this field from Software Systems studies – his interest in quantum computing began at Vilnius University.
“My journey into the field of quantum information science started with the course ‘Introduction to Quantum Computing,’ which I chose in my final years of Software Systems studies at Vilnius University,” says Pijus.
Pijus associates his future with Lithuania and its emerging quantum technology ecosystem.
“My long-term goal is to bring this experience back to Lithuania. We have both talents and infrastructure to create a competitive position in this field,” says the scholarship holder.
Augustas Ukvalbergas – engineering solutions for Lithuania’s progress
Augustas Ukvalbergas chose engineering studies at the University of Cambridge. His choice was driven by a desire to create technologies that change people’s lives.
“What inspires me most is that engineers’ work has a real and tangible impact. They create products and innovative solutions that change our daily lives, help use resources more efficiently, and contribute to societal progress,” says Augustas.
In the future, Augustas plans to apply his acquired knowledge in Lithuania’s high-tech sector.
“I associate my future plans with Lithuania and the opportunity to apply the knowledge, skills, and international experience gained during my studies here. I would like to work in an advanced Lithuanian high-tech company and contribute to the development of innovative products and engineering solutions, especially in the fields of energy or electronics,” says the scholarship holder.
Belief in the power of science and education
The Kazickas Family Foundation STEM scholarship program continues Dr. Juozas Petras Kazickas’s approach to the importance of science and education. Having studied at Yale University himself and emphasizing the importance of knowledge and education throughout his life, he believed that Lithuania’s strong future depends on talented, educated, and open-minded people.
“There is no doubt that technology is the future, and it is developing very rapidly. You can read about Hemingway or Čiurlionis, but education in science, mathematics, technology, and engineering is essential,” says Jūratė Kazickaitė, president of the Kazickas Family Foundation and initiator of the program.
She also emphasizes the need to encourage more young women to choose these fields:
“It is very important to me to involve young women in these fields. I am glad that already in the first year of the scholarship, we received three times more applications from girls. This is very important to me – to encourage women to choose fields where they are still very underrepresented.”
J. Kazickaitė also highlights the importance of international experience:
“We specifically created this scholarship for studies abroad – in European countries, the United States, or Canada. I strongly believe it is important for young people to go into the international space to see how different people live and think.”
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