By Nina Hermansen, AAU Communications & Public Affairs
Photo: Agnete Schlichtkrull

Let’s be honest: the gut is hardly the most obvious subject for a Friday night television programme. Yet it took centre stage last week when Marie Vibeke Vestergaard from Aalborg University was among the five finalists in Forskerfesten 2026 on DR.

Forskerfesten, also known as the PhD Cup, is a collaboration between the Lundbeck Foundation, Information and DR. Here, newly graduated PhDs compete to communicate often complex and specialised research in a way that is accessible to a broad audience. The finalists were selected in advance by an independent research panel.

Drawing on data, blood samples and a keen eye for patterns, Marie Vibeke Vestergaard explained how her research may ultimately help identify signs of chronic inflammatory bowel disease several years before the condition develops. She carried out the research as part of her PhD at the Center for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PREDICT).

From delivery room to dissemination

Although she did not take the overall prize, Marie Vibeke Vestergaard describes the experience as remarkable, despite the fact that the programme coincided with the birth of her second child at the end of March.

“It has been an extraordinary experience. I was very unsure whether to submit an application, but when my daughter arrived two weeks early, and with the support of my incredibly supportive partner, everything fell into place. I am truly glad that I went ahead,” she says, adding that she has been particularly struck by the level of interest from patients across the country.

“These enquiries from people living with chronic bowel disease in their daily lives reaffirm for me how important it is to continue working in this field—and that it genuinely makes a difference.”

Training in a media spotlight

As part of Forskerfesten, Marie Vibeke Vestergaard and the other finalists took part in an extensive media training programme. In the weeks leading up to the final, she attended a DR boot camp, where participants were coached in stage presence, body language and communicating effectively with a general audience.

For a researcher accustomed to presenting at academic conferences, it was a different discipline altogether.

“I received feedback on everything—from how I stood and moved to how I articulated my key messages. It has been great fun to be part of such a media environment and to gain insight into what happens behind the scenes.”

She also highlights the sense of community among the participants, describing Forskerfesten as the beginning of a new cross-disciplinary network spanning universities and fields of research.

So, even though she had to put her maternity leave on hold for a time, she does not hesitate to recommend that other early-career researchers apply.

“It is an excellent opportunity to improve how you communicate your research and to recognise the impact it can have beyond the university.”