Research and Innovation

Before moving to Lithuania from Sakartvelo, Shorena Gudzhabidze already had a clear vision of what a modern study environment should look like. That vision was influenced by listening to the stories of students from universities across Europe, whom she met while participating in her school’s STEM academy. The Civil Engineering programme at Vilnius TECH ticked all the boxes, and it didn’t take long for her to decide and move abroad. This is a story about one young engineer who discovered her passion at the crossroads of architecture and engineering.  The road to Vilnius As a high school student, Shorena participated in international engineering competitions—including Intel ISEF and ECUSYS—where she met students from universities all over Europe. “Hearing firsthand about their labs, courses, and research environments genuinely raised my expectations for what a university experience could be,” she recalls.  When it was time to decide where to study, Vilnius TECH emerged through her school’s Alumni network. The Civil Engineering programme met all her requirements. Shorena applied, received a scholarship, and made the move. “At that point, it felt like a straightforward decision,” she says. Learning to think like an engineer Soon, Shorena realised that Civil Engineering is larger than most people think. “What surprised me most wasn’t the difficulty — it was the scope,” she explains. “A bachelor’s degree is about training your mind to think in a certain way. For me, that was engineering thinking — learning how to approach problems, break them down, and develop solutions.” Two experiences had the greatest impact on her. The first was her thesis project: “It was the moment when four years of knowledge finally came together into something clear. You don’t fully realise how much you’ve learned until you have to use it all at once.”  The second was her mentor, Dean Dr Remigijus Šalna. “What I learned from him was professionalism in the truest sense — deep expertise and a genuine attention to detail. In engineering, and in any technical field, the difference between good work and great work often lies in the details. That’s something I carry with me.” Living in dormitories, adapting to a new country, and overcoming the challenges of starting an independent life also left their mark. “There were moments that felt truly overwhelming,” Shorena admits. “But looking back, that’s just part of starting an independent life, and those moments shaped me as much as anything else.” Between studies and early career  By her third year, Shorena’s curriculum required a professional internship. She chose Staticus — one of Europe’s largest façade contractors — despite façade engineering not being part of her career plans. It didn’t take long for that to change. “You’re exactly at the crossroads of architecture and engineering,” she says. “And it turned out to be more compelling than I expected.”  Shorena was employed before she finished her studies. Balancing her final-year coursework with a professional role was challenging, but Shorena sees it practically: “That’s where you learn real-time management, not just the theoretical kind. You quickly figure out your priorities because you have no choice. I wouldn’t call it easy, but I would say it’s worth it.” Joining the Staticus team initially meant having limited domain knowledge. However, engineering education provided her with the essential tools to fill that gap. “What my studies truly gave me — and what mattered more in that scenario — was an engineering mindset. The ability to examine something unfamiliar and work through it methodically.”   The moment of pride: the Landspitali project  Shorena spent her first three years at Staticus as a 3D Design Engineer specialising in Building Information Modelling (BIM). She developed complex façade models in Revit and created parametric building components used directly in manufacturing and installation. Her project portfolio expanded to include the Oxford Life and Mind Building Campus, Høsnord Hospital in Denmark, and the Hero project in Lithuania.  But one project stands out the most: Landspitali, a 30,000 m² hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland. “The challenges it posed were on a whole different level,” Shorena says. “Beyond the massive scale, Iceland’s extreme weather and seismic activity added layers of engineering complexity that most projects don’t face.” The façade alone included static seismic testing to meet American AAMA standards — a first for Staticus. “Seeing how a project of that complexity gets coordinated and delivered across different disciplines teaches you things that smaller projects simply can’t.”  Taking a fresh direction After three years, Shorena experienced a surprising career shift. She took on the role of Product Manager at Staticus XD — the company’s all-in-one, cloud-based façade project management platform designed to offer full project visibility and seamless collaboration from bid to handover.  “Construction and façade engineering, in particular, remains a rather traditional industry — many processes could be smarter, more connected, and more transparent, but they still aren’t,” she explains. “That gap is actually exciting when you’re in a product role because the potential is huge.” What motivates her is seeing real impact: when something the team produces genuinely changes how someone in design, production, or project management performs their role. She also mentions that the role draws on everything she has developed. “It’s not a role where you can fake one or the other — the engineering background or the product thinking. I find that combination truly interesting to work in.”  The right call If you ask Shorena where she sees herself in five years, she’ll answer honestly. “If you had asked me the same questions three to five years ago, my reply would have been completely different from where I actually ended up. I didn’t picture myself in product management or façade engineering, and yet here I am, and it all makes perfect sense now.” The advice she would share with her younger self — and any student facing similar challenges — is grounded in that hard-won self-awareness: “I believe the one thing that carried me through was always trusting myself and my abilities. Not that there weren’t difficult moments — there were many — but I never truly lost that core confidence that I’d figure it out. Trust yourself sooner and more often than you might feel natural. The rest usually falls into place.”  For students from Sakartvelo or elsewhere considering the leap to study abroad, her message serves as both a warning and an invitation: “It’s probably the hardest decision you’ll ever make — and also the best one. Both can be true at the same time. There will be moments when you’re homesick and question everything. But you’ll stay — because deep down, you’ll know it’s the right call.” 

On February 26th, we invite you to participate in the VILNIUS TECH "Well-being Day" – an online event dedicated to raising awareness about mental health. We will cover neurodevelopmental disorders, universal design, youth mental health, and the importance of the student-lecturer relationship.   We will openly and boldly discuss important topics, share experiences, and seek new ways to improve emotional well-being. Note: the only lecture in English will be “I’m neurodivergent and I want everyone to know that…” (from 10.10 AM), but we invite you to participate in Lithuanian lectures too! It's a good chance to improve your languange skills.    PROGRAM   10:00-10:10 | Opening Remarks 10:10-11:10 | (In English) “I’m neurodivergent and I want everyone to know that…”: psychological insights from university students | Miglė Rudytė – VILNIUS TECH Psychologist, Coordinator for Students with Individual Needs, and PhD student at the VU Institute of Psychology. The presentation will address the mental health of young adults with neurodevelopmental disorders and the challenges they face in higher education. It will cover the main symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders, common co-occurring conditions, and learning difficulties 11:10-12:10 | Youth Psychological Well-being in Times of Unrest and Artificial Intelligence | Giedrė Dautartaitė – Clinical Psychologist, Specialist at the Vilnius City Public Health Bureau. She will provide an overview of the current youth mental health situation, common difficulties, and available support options. 12:10-13:00 | Lunch Break 13:00-14:00 | Universal Design for Learning and Higher Education | Indrė Širvinskaitė – President of the Lithuanian Disability Forum. This lecture will examine accessibility in higher education – from legal frameworks to practical application. The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) will be introduced, along with opportunities to apply them in the study process. The session will discuss how applying UDL principles can help create an inclusive learning environment not only for students with disabilities but for all students. 14:00-15:00 | Discussion: The Lecturer-Student Relationship in the Study Process | Participants: Dr. Sigita Kamašauskė (Lecturer at the Faculty of Creative Industries, Doctor of Communication Science), Tautvydas Kvietkauskas (Lecturer and PhD student at the Faculty of Fundamental Sciences), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vilius Vertelis (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Electronics), Vita Vasionienė (Technician at the Materials Science and Welding Laboratory). Moderated by: Psychologist Rasa Urbanavičiūtė. LINK TO JOIN: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/35094064956685...

On February 13, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) conferred the title of Honorary Doctor upon Professor Hartmut Pasternak, Habilitated Doctor, of the Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU, Germany). He is a distinguished scientist in the field of steel and composite structures, a long-standing leader in the academic community, and an active partner of VILNIUS TECH.   The Honorary Doctorate was granted at the initiative of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, in recognition of his exceptional merits to engineering science, his significant contribution to international academic cooperation, and his long-term, consistent partnership with VILNIUS TECH.   "This is a particularly important event for us – in the entire history of the university since 1990, we are conferring this title for the 33rd time. We highly value Prof. Dr. H. Pasternak’s friendship with VILNIUS TECH, as well as his merits to engineering science and his active pedagogical activity.   The Professor is our long-term partner, a talented mentor to doctoral students, a developer of standards and regulations, constantly interested in civil engineering achievements in Lithuania, a promoter of our country's bridges, and a loyal co-author – we are grateful to you that Lithuanian engineering wisdom is heard in international journals and conferences," said University Rector Romualdas Kliukas in his congratulatory speech.   According to Prof. H. Pasternak, this is not only an academic acknowledgment but also a symbolic sign of cooperation between VILNIUS TECH and the scientist.   "The conferring of the Honorary Doctor title is a great and truly exceptional honor. For me personally, it means recognition and appreciation. It is a sign of the special bond between VILNIUS TECH and myself, which we should cherish in the future as well," says the Professor.   Internationally Renowned Scientist and Expert   Prof. H. Pasternak is one of the most prominent specialists in steel and composite structures in Europe. From 1993 to 2020, he headed the Chair of Steel and Timber Structures at BTU, and from 2016 to 2019, he served as the Head of the Institute of Civil Engineering at BTU. In 2021, he was elected a full member of the Brunswick Scientific Society (BWG) in Germany for his scientific achievements.   The Professor is an active member of the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) Technical Committee 8, contributing to the solution of stability issues in steel structures and the development of European standards. He also participated in European Commission project working groups "Crane supporting structures" and "Web openings," COST C25 activities, and more than 15 international projects (DAAD, RFCS, DFG, AiF, DVS, etc.).   Since 1999, Prof. H. Pasternak has been one of the editors-in-chief of the scientific journal Bauingenieur (indexed in the Web of Science database), overseeing the field of steel structures. He also serves on the editorial boards of many international scientific journals, including the Journal of Civil Engineering and Management and Engineering Structures & Technologies published by VILNIUS TECH.   During his academic career, the Professor has published more than 270 scientific publications, co-authored five books in German and English, and supervised 24 defended doctoral dissertations.   Practical Experience and International Recognition   In addition to his academic activities, Prof. H. Pasternak is a recognized expert in structural engineering. Since 1995, he has been appointed as a checking engineer (expert) in the field of structural engineering and has performed expertise for complex, internationally known construction projects, including the CargoLifter airship hangar, the Porsche pavilion, and the double-curved roofs of the AKC Wolfsburg and the Schierke Feuerstein arena.   Prof. H. Pasternak is constantly interested in civil engineering achievements in Lithuania and participates in various field trips. After visiting the newly built innovative pedestrian bridge across the Nemunas in Alytus (the White Rose Bridge), the Professor requested a publication about this structure for the journal Bauingenieur in order to publicize new and innovative Lithuanian bridges.   The Professor also actively participates in international conferences worldwide – from Europe to Australia and South Africa – as a member of scientific committees and a keynote speaker.   Long-standing Partnership with VILNIUS TECH   Prof. H. Pasternak has been collaborating with VILNIUS TECH for more than two decades. He was one of the initiators of the partnership between VILNIUS TECH and BTU and coordinated institutional cooperation for about 20 years, including under the Erasmus program.   The Professor has visited VILNIUS TECH ten times, delivering lectures to students of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and sharing the latest knowledge on innovations in steel structures. Recent lectures include "Outstanding Steel Buildings in Germany – Some Engineering Aspects" (2023) and "Use of Bonded Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) for Reinforcement and Renovation of Fatigue-Damaged Steel Structures" (2024).   From 2004 to 2023, Prof. H. Pasternak was a member of the scientific committee and a guest speaker at the VILNIUS TECH international conference "Modern Building Materials, Structures and Techniques" (MBMST), where he delivered seven keynote speeches.   At his initiative, five publications by VILNIUS TECH scientists were published in the journal Bauingenieur, and in 2022, a joint article with VILNIUS TECH researchers was published in the journal Applied Sciences. There are plans to continue joint publications in the near future.   Prof. H. Pasternak actively contributes to the education of young VILNIUS TECH scientists – he participated in the defense councils of six doctoral dissertations, and this June, he was a member of the defense council for three more doctoral students. His expert insights and international experience significantly contribute to strengthening the quality of studies and research at the university.   The last time the VILNIUS TECH Honorary Doctor title was conferred was in 2023 to Prof. Algis Mickūnas, a philosopher and professor at Ohio University (USA).