Today, the European Commission appointed Professor Conny Aerts from the Institute of Astronomy at KU Leuven as a new member of the Scientific Council, the governing body of the European Research Council (ERC). She replaces Professor Chryssa Kouveliotou, who stepped down at the end of March 2025. Professor Aerts will be a member of the Council from today until the end of June 2029.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, said:
"Professor Aerts is an outstanding scientist and a strong voice for European research. Her deep experience and dedication will be a real asset to the ERC Scientific Council. I warmly welcome her and look forward to working together to support excellence in science."
Biography
Professor Aerts is a distinguished mathematician and astrophysicist. She began her academic journey at Antwerp University and earned her PhD in astrophysics at KU Leuven.
Her career includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the Research Foundation Flanders and a long-standing academic trajectory at KU Leuven, where she progressed from Lecturer to Full Professor. She currently holds the Chair in Asteroseismology at Radboud University Nijmegen and is an External Scientific Member of the Max Planck Society.
Conny Aerts is an influential figure in her field, she has made significant contributions to stellar astrophysics, specifically in asteroseismology, utilising space missions like CoRoT, Kepler, and TESS to further her research.
She has received several major recognitions, including two ERC Advanced Grants and the 2020 FWO Excellence Award. Her research has introduced new mathematical and statistical methods to study stellar structure and evolution.
In addition to her scientific work, she is deeply engaged in academic mentoring and outreach, having supervised around 100 Master’s and PhD students.
Currently engaged with the ESA space mission PLATO, she continues to make strides in research, education, and science communication.
The European Research Council (ERC)
Set up by the European Union in 2007, the ERC awards grants through open competitions to projects headed by starting and established researchers, irrespective of their origins, who are working or moving to work in Europe. The sole criterion for selection is scientific excellence. The Scientific Council, the independent governing body of the ERC, defines the ERC's scientific funding strategy and methodologies. It is composed of 22 members, all eminent scientists and scholars, who represent the scientific community in Europe and are appointed by the European Commission following recommendations by an independent Identification Committee. The ERC President, since 2021 Prof. Maria Leptin, chairs the Scientific Council, ensures its leadership and represents the ERC.
More information
Conny Aerts — Institute of Astronomy
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Details
- Publication date
- 1 July 2025
- Author
- Directorate-General for Research and Innovation