Two NARILIS veterinarians, Claire Diederich and Benoit Muylkens, awarded the title of « Lauréat du travail »

Two NARILIS members from the Veterinary department of the UNamur have received an official recognition for their outstanding professional commitment and achievement. The Royal Decree of 12 November 2020, published in the Belgian Moniteur on 24 December 2020 (Arrêté royal), confers to Dr. Claire Diederich and Prof. Benoît Muylkens the title of “Lauréat du travail” in the field of Veterinary medicine under the label “expert in the profession”. This award confirms the quality of their work and highlights their talent and strong involvement to serve society through their education and research activities.

Dr. Claire Diederich is professor in ethology of domestic and laboratory animals and specialist in animal welfare, ethics and law. She conducts research to advance our understanding of animal behavior, with a special focus on human-animal interactions.

Prof. Benoit Muylkens is expert in the field of molecular virology. His lab explores epidemiological and molecular aspects of viral diseases at the human-animal-environment interface. His research addresses global health challenges posed by emerging zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance, using a “One Health” approach. Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, Benoît Muylkens has shown a high level of commitment in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic. With the support from many volunteers, he led the establishment of a SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic platform at the UNamur (SANA), which has been running Covid-19 tests from March till June 2020.

Claire and Benoît are invited to receive their insignia during an official handover ceremony scheduled on 25 April 2021 at the Zoological Institute of Liège (if the health situation allows). Beyond these personal recognitions, these two awards also reflect the dynamism and engagement of a whole research unit and department.