Balikpapan – ITK Lecturer Wins Prestigious Young Researcher Award 2025. Another proud achievement has been recorded by the Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) on the national research stage. Dr. Eng. Lusi Ernawati, S.T., M.Sc., a lecturer at ITK, has been awarded the Young Researcher Award (YRA) 2025, presented by the Indonesian Researcher Association (Perhimpunan Periset Indonesia/PPI) a prestigious honor for Indonesia’s most outstanding young researchers.

This achievement places the ITK lecturer alongside leading national and diaspora researchers, while reaffirming ITK’s role as a higher education institution that consistently produces high-quality, impactful, and globally competitive research.

The Young Researcher Award 2025 carries the theme “Bridging to the Nobel Prize”, reflecting an effort to connect Indonesian research with world class research standards. The competition attracted 112 young researchers from 50 institutions, including universities, research centers, industries, and Indonesian diaspora across various countries.

Based on Decree Number KEP-13/PP/PPI/XI/2025, PPI designated finalists and award recipients across three main categories: Researcher, Engineer, and Lecturer.
In the Outstanding Young Lecturer Category, Dr. Eng. Lusi Ernawati emerged as one of the nation’s top young researchers, earning national recognition for her dedication, consistency, and significant research contributions.

Chairman of PPI, Syahrir Ika, emphasized that YRA is an open form of appreciation for both domestic and diaspora researchers. “YRA encourages young researchers to produce scientifically excellent research that is relevant to global challenges and delivers tangible impacts for humanity and sustainable development,” he stated.

The theme Bridging to the Nobel Prize highlights scientific novelty, methodological rigor, global relevance, and real-world impact values clearly reflected in the achievements of Dr. Eng. Lusi Ernawati as both an academic and researcher at ITK.

The YRA 2025 awards ceremony was held on 16 December 2025, coinciding with the 4th Anniversary of the Indonesian Researcher Association. The event also featured an inspirational talk show, presenting award recipients as role models for young researchers across Indonesia.

This accomplishment marks an important milestone for Institut Teknologi Kalimantan, underscoring the strategic role of ITK lecturers in strengthening national research capacity and addressing global challenges through science-based innovation.

Driven by the spirit of Bridging to the Nobel Prize, Dr. Eng. Lusi Ernawati’s achievement is expected to inspire the ITK academic community and Indonesia’s younger generation to continue innovating and advancing Indonesian research onto the global stage.