Administration

Management of FI

  • Kovács, István János Kovács, István János Director general Director general +36 20 550 69 35
    Kovács, István János

    Kovács, István János

    Phone : +36 20 550 69 35
    E-mail:
    Office 1.11

    Publications:

    CV

    #Lithosphere_hydration #Carpathian–Pannonian_geodynamics #Magnetotelluric_deep_sounding

    Career:

    Dr. István János Kovács is a geologist and Director General of the HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science. His research focuses on the concentration, incorporation mechanisms, and physical role of trace amounts of "water" in minerals. Even in such small quantities, water plays a fundamental role in the operation of global plate tectonics. The Carpathian–Pannonian region provides an excellent natural laboratory for studying these processes. He also has extensive experience in the geological interpretation of deep geophysical data — particularly magnetotelluric (MT) and seismological measurements — in the Carpathian–Pannonian region. In addition, he serves as the Hungarian coordinator of the international Topo-Transylvania collaboration investigating the geodynamics of the Carpathian Bend area, one of the most seismically active regions in Europe. He is the author of more than 150 publications in international journals with impact factors, which have received more than 2,500 independent citations; his h-index exceeds 30. He has served on the editorial boards of several prestigious international journals, including American Mineralogist, Central European Geology, European Journal of Mineralogy, and Acta Geodaetica et Geophysica. He was an elected member of the Geochemical, Mineralogical and Petrological Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and also served as chair of the Committee's Petrological Subcommittee. He has also served as President of the Hungarian National Committee of the International Lithosphere Program. He has supervised or co-supervised five PhD students, as well as numerous MSc and BSc students. His scientific work has been recognised with numerous national and international awards. He received the Outstanding Young Scientist Award of the Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology and Volcanology Division of the European Geosciences Union (2011), and the Research Excellence Medal of the European Mineralogical Union (2015). His domestic awards include the Junior Prima Prize in the Hungarian Science category (2011), the Bolyai Plaque (2017), and the Vendl Mária Memorial Medal of the Hungarian Geological Society (2018). In 2025, he was elected Honorary Citizen of Szihalom. He is married and the father of two children: Emese (born 2012) and István Kovács Jr. (born 2014).

    Research projects and Grants:

    In summary 1 400 904 kHUF/3 502 kEUR retrieved from different funding resources
    • National Research, Development and Innovation Office, (RHG_L 151351), ‘Multi-scale modelling and monitoring of Earth System Dynamics and its impact on geoenergy, geo-hazards and climate.’, 2025-2029, (1,000,000 kHUF), Co-PI
    • National Research, Development and Innovation Office, (MEC_SZ 149113), ‘TOPOEUROPE’, 2024, (9,104 kHUF), PI
    • Hungarian Academy of Sciences Visiting Researcher Program, invitation of Prof. Sierd Cloetingh, 2023, (10,000 kHUF), PI
    • ELKH Infrastructure Grant SA-47/2021, ‘Topo-Transylvania’, 2021-2023, (40,000 kHUF), accepted, PI
    • Hungarian Academy of Sciences Visiting Researcher Program, invitation of Prof. Sierd Cloetingh, 2019-2020, (6,000 kHUF), PI
    • National Research, Development and Innovation Office, (NN141956), ‘TopoTransylvania’, 2018-2024, (41,500 kHUF), PI
    • Hungarian Academy of Sciences Momentum program, 2018-2024, 'Pargasosphere: or the new role of 'water' in the dynamics of the lithosphere-asthenosphere system based on the Pannonian basin?!', (190,000 kHUF), PI
    • Bolyai Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, ‘Water distribution in the lithosphere of the Carpathian-Pannon region’, 2017-2018, (~3,200 kHUF), PI
    • National Research, Development and Innovation Office (K128122), ‘Water in the fire: what does the water content and geochemistry of volcanic rocks and their phenocrysts reveal?’, 2016-2021, (27,000 kHUF), PI
    • Bolyai Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, ‘Application of Infrared Spectrometry in Earth and Environmental Sciences’, 2013-2016, (10,000 kHUF), PI
    • National Research, Development and Innovation Office (PD101683), ‘Quantitative infrared spectrometry and isotope geochemical investigation of "water" built into the structure of minerals’, 2011-2014, (18,100 kHUF), PI
    • Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant (NAMSs-230937) ‘Water and its bearing on geophysical properties’; 2009-2013, (100 kEUR), PI
    • Mervyn and Katalin Paterson grant (ANU RSES, Australia), ‘Hydrogen measurements by SIMS in nominally anhydrous minerals’, 2007, (1,500 EUR), PI

    Memberships/ Proffessional communities:

    • Director General of HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science (Sopron) – 2024–
    • Head of the Earth Physics Department, HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science – 2021–2024
    • Director of MTA CSFK Geodetic and Geophysical Institute – 2019–2020
    • Head of MTA CSFK Lendület Pannon LitH2Oscope Research Group (more than 10 members) – 2018–2024
    • Head of Department, Geological and Geophysical Institute of Hungary (11 employees) – 2012–2013
    • Supervisor of BSc, MSc and PhD students at Eötvös Loránd University – 2004–

    Awards/Recognition:

    • Honorary Citizen of Szihalom – 2025
    • Vendl Mária Research Memorial Medal, Hungarian Geological Society – 2018
    • Bolyai János Postdoctoral Scholarship – 2017–2018
    • Bolyai Plaque, Hungarian Academy of Sciences – 2017
    • Research Excellence Medal, European Mineralogical Union – 2015
    • Bolyai János Postdoctoral Scholarship – 2013–2016
    • Outstanding Young Scientist Award, Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology and Volcanology Division, European Geosciences Union – 2011
    • Junior Prima Prize – 2011
    • Szádeczky-Kardoss Elemér Award, Hungarian Academy of Sciences – 2008
    • Outstanding Young Non-Russian Scientist Award, Russian Mineralogical Society – 2007
    • Szádeczky-Kardoss Elemér Award, Hungarian Academy of Sciences – 2006
    • Semsey Andor Prize, Hungarian Geological Society (for best publication by young researchers, shared) – 2005
    • Pro Scientia Gold Medal, National Scientific Student Conference – 2003
    • Portus Prize, Eötvös Collegium – 2003
    • Outstanding Student of the Faculty, Eötvös Loránd University – 2003
    • Scholarship of the Republic of Hungary – 2002–2003
    • Outstanding Student of the Faculty, Eötvös Loránd University – 2002
    • Scholarship of the Republic of Hungary – 2001–2002
    • Outstanding Student of the Faculty, Eötvös Loránd University – 2001

    Education:

    • PhD in Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra (Australia) – 2005–2008
    • MSc in Geology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest (Hungary) – 1998–2003
  • Prof. Sierd Cloetingh Prof. Sierd Cloetingh Scientific advisor and Chief Scientist Scientific advisor and Chief Scientist
  • Heilig, Balázs Heilig, Balázs Deputy director general, Senior research fellow Deputy director general, Senior research fellow
    Heilig, Balázs

    Heilig, Balázs

    E-mail:

    Publications:

    #space weather #space research #space physics #magnetosphere #plasmasphere #ionosphere #geomagnetism

    Career:

    He completed his university studies at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Mathematics Education (1989–1994) and later obtained a PhD in Physics of the Near-Earth Space environment at the same university. In 1998, he joined the Tihany Geophysical Observatory of the Eötvös Loránd Geophysical Institute (ELGI), initially working on geomagnetism and later on magnetospheric wave phenomena. His research interests expanded to include magnetosphere–solar wind interactions, and magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling in complex coupled systems. Since 2012, he has been the coordinator of the European quasi-Meridional Magnetometer Array (EMMA), which he organized.

    Research projects and Grants:

    • ESA RPA Monitoring the Sub-Auroral Magnetosphere–Ionosphere Coupling at LEO (MOSAIC) – 2025–2027
    • ESA Swarm DISC EPSS activity – 2024–2029
    • ESA S2P Space Weather Service Network (SWESNET) – 2024–2028
    • EU H2020 FARBES – 2022–2026
    • ESA Swarm DISC ULF wave activity – 2022–2024
    • ESA S2P Radiation Belt Forecast and Nowcast 2 (RB-FAN2) – 2022–2026
    • ESA S2P Plasmaspheric Products for Space Weather Services (PLASMA) – 2020–2024
    • ESA New Space Weather Information Exploited from Swarm Observations (EPHEMERIS) – 2019–2020
    • ESA PECS Exploitation of Swarm data for space weather monitoring purposes (Swarm4SWE) – 2015–2017
    • EU FP7-SPACE-2010-1 A new, ground-based data assimilative modeling of the Earth’s plasmasphere – a critical contribution to Radiation Belt modeling for Space Weather purposes (PLASMON) – 2011–2014

    Memberships/Professional Communities:

    • Eötvös Loránd Geophysical Institute – Research Fellow – 1998–2012
    • International Heliophysical Year 2007 – Project Coordinator: CIP 37: “ULF waves” 2006–
    • Coordinator of the MM100 magnetometer network – 2001–2012
    • Hungarian Geological and Geophysical Institute – Senior Researcher – 2012–2017
    • CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) – Associate Member – 2017–2020
    • ELTE Department of Geophysics and Space Science – Senior Researcher – 2020–2025
    • ELKH Institute for Earth Physics and Space Science – Senior Researcher – 2022–2023
    • HUN-REN Institute for Earth Physics and Space Science – Senior Researcher – 2023–2024
    • HUN-REN Institute for Earth Physics and Space Science – Deputy Director / Senior Researcher – 2024–
    • Óbuda University, Space Lab – Senior Researcher – 2025–

    Awards/Recognition:

    • Szilárd József Award, Eötvös Loránd Geophysical Foundation – 2001
    • MTA GGKI Special Award – 2005
    • MTA János Bolyai Research Fellowship – 2014

    Education:

    • PhD in Geophysics – ELTE – 2014
    • MSc in Mathematics and Physics Education – ELTE – 1994
  • Kardos-Mészáros, Csilla Kardos-Mészáros, Csilla head of secretariat head of secretariat +36 99-508-351
  • Molnár, Csaba Molnár, Csaba engineer engineer +36 99-508-386
  • Hatos, Gábor Hatos, Gábor IT manager IT manager +36 99-508-368
  • Czifra, Tibor Czifra, Tibor operations manager (Budapest), technician operations manager (Budapest), technician +36 1-248-2303
  • Süle, Bálint Süle, Bálint Research fellow Research fellow +36 1-248-2305
    Süle, Bálint

    Süle, Bálint

    Phone : +36 1-248-2305
    E-mail:

    Publications:

    #seismology

    Career:

    Bálint Süle graduated from the geophysics programme at Eötvös Loránd University in 2002, with his thesis focusing on flow processes in the Earth's mantle. Alongside numerical modelling of mantle convection, he also began conducting seismological research, specifically the determination of earthquake source parameters. His current main area of activity is the operation of seismological stations, observatory data acquisition, and data processing.

    Research Projects and Grants:

    • Geo-hydrodynamics: fluid dynamic phenomena in the Earth's interior – co-investigator – 2002–2005
    • Further development of measurement methods for Earth tides and related geodynamic phenomena, processing and complex interpretation of data recorded in the Pannonian Basin – co-investigator – 2004–2007
    • Interaction of the Earth's rotation vector with geodynamic processes – co-investigator – 2006–2010
    • Comprehensive investigation of source parameters of domestic earthquakes – co-investigator – 2007–2010
    • Numerical modelling of the dynamics of mantle convection and its surface manifestations – co-investigator – 2008–2013
    • Structure and geodynamics of the Eastern Alps – Pannonian Basin transition zone based on data from the AlpArray Seismological Network – co-investigator – 2017–2022
    • Discrimination of natural and man-made events by joint analysis of seismic and infrasound data – co-investigator – 2018–2023

    Memberships / Professional Communities:

    • Association of Hungarian Geophysicists – member – 2000-
    • FDSN (International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks) – representative – 2021-
    • ISC (International Seismological Centre) – representative – 2023-
    • EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre) – representative – 2023-

    Education:

    • MSc in Geophysics – Eötvös Loránd University – 2002

    Recent / Featured Publications:

    • Süle, B.; Czecze, B.; Czifra, T.; Csatlós, M.; Gyarmati, A.; Győri, E.; Schlömer, A.; Pásztor, M.; Wéber, Z.; Kalmár, D.; Working Group and AdriaArray Seismology Group (2025). Seismological Network in Hungary: Insights from the AdriaArray Operational Period. Annals of Geophysics, 68(5), DM559. https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-9321
    • Csatlós M., Süle B. (2025). Calibration of the Local Magnitude Scale for Hungary. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 115(1), pp. 163–173. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120240090
    • Wéber, Z., Czecze, B., Süle, B. et al. (2020). Source analysis of the March 7, ML=4.0, 2019 Somogyszob, Hungary earthquake sequence. Acta Geodaetica et Geophysica, 55, 371–387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40328-020-00311-7
    • Wéber Z., Süle B. (2014). Source properties of the 29 January 2011 ML 4.5 Oroszlány (Hungary) mainshock and its aftershocks. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 104(1), pp. 113–127. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120130152
    • Süle, B., Wéber, Z. (2013). Earthquake source parameters and scaling relationships in Hungary (central Pannonian basin). Journal of Seismology, 17, 507–521. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-012-9334-3

Financial department of FI

  • Boros, Eszter Boros, Eszter Communications Officer Communications Officer +36 99-508-394
    Boros, Eszter

    Boros, Eszter

    Phone : +36 99-508-394
    E-mail:

    Publications:

    Career:

    Eszter Boros is currently a part-time staff member at the HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science (from February 2026), where her main responsibilities include creating social media content, organising events, and managing the Research Grant Hungary project. Previously, between 2024 and 2025, she worked at the Sopron Municipal Government and the Sopron Government Office as an architect and building authority administrator, issuing permits, mandatory directives and orders, and evaluating urban design notifications and architectural review submissions in collaboration with the chief architect. For four years (2020–2024), she worked as an architectural project coordinator at Platánplan, where she was responsible for client relations, quotation preparation, contract drafting, and coordination of manufacturing and construction processes for prefabricated and CLT timber-frame houses. Between 2021 and 2022, she worked as a freelance content writer, contributing articles on architecture and the furniture industry to Magyar Asztalos magazine (now faipar.hu). Between 2013 and 2020, she lived in England, where she worked in various roles including B2B marketing administrator and kitchen designer.

    Awards / Recognition:

    • Doctoral scholarship – 2024/2025

    Professional Activities:

    • Rehau&Piper kitchen design competition – jury member – 2022

    Education:

    • Doctoral degree – Comparative study of the physiological effects of wood and wood-based objects – University of Sopron, Cziráki József Doctoral School of Wood Sciences and Technologies – in progress
    • Software developer and tester – Kecskeméti SZC Fazekas István Vocational School – in progress
    • Leadership competency training – University of Sopron – 2025
    • UX/UI Designer – Xlabs – 2023
    • MA in Architecture – University of West Hungary – 2012
  • Brányi, Gyöngyi Brányi, Gyöngyi Financial and accountancy administrator Financial and accountancy administrator +36 99-508-345
    Brányi, Gyöngyi

    Brányi, Gyöngyi

    Phone : +36 99-508-345
    E-mail:
    Office 1.06

    Career:

    • HUN-REN FI – head of secretariat – 2018-2025
    • HUN-REN FI – financial and accounting administrator – 2026-

    Research Projects and Grants:

    • Administration of GINOP, GINOP Plus and Research Grant Hungary grants
    • Organisation, administration and settlement of domestic and international business travel
    • Administration of procurement, customs affairs and public procurement procedures
    • Management of rental contracts

    Education:

    • Nádasdy Tamás Secondary School of Economics and Informatics, Csepreg – business informatics – 2003-2008
    • Széchenyi István University, Győr – 2008-2012
  • Károlyi, Judit Károlyi, Judit labor and tender administrator labor and tender administrator +36 99-508-344
  • Némethné Locsmándi, Bettina Némethné Locsmándi, Bettina Financial and accountancy administrator Financial and accountancy administrator +36 99-508-347
    Némethné Locsmándi, Bettina

    Némethné Locsmándi, Bettina

    Phone : +36 99-508-347
    E-mail:
    Office 1.08

    Career:

    • Full-cycle bookkeeping of incoming and outgoing invoices and other financial transactions
    • Processing bank transfers and monitoring cash flow
    • Active participation in the preparation of annual financial statements and year-end closing processes
    • Preparation and timely submission of VAT returns

    Education:

    • Certified Balance Sheet Accountant – Fáy András Bilingual Economics Technical School, Sopron SZC – 2018
  • Nyikosné Antalóczy, Gabriella Nyikosné Antalóczy, Gabriella Financial and accountancy administrator Financial and accountancy administrator +36 99-508-347
    Nyikosné Antalóczy, Gabriella

    Nyikosné Antalóczy, Gabriella

    Phone : +36 99-508-347
    E-mail:
    Office 1.07

    Career:

    • Recording and coding of incoming invoices
    • Issuing and coding of outgoing invoices
    • Receipt and registration of fixed assets
    • Maintenance of contract and purchase order records

    Education:

    • Certified Balance Sheet Accountant – 2008
    • Fáy András Economics Secondary School, Miskolc – 1987
  • Radasits, Péter Radasits, Péter Financial manager Financial manager +3699 508 348