Two promising UG researchers to top institutes abroad on Rubicon grants

Two promising PhD graduates from the University of Groningen will be able to conduct research at top institutes abroad for two years thanks to the Rubicon programme organized by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The NWO Rubicon programme enables talented, young researchers to acquire international research experience to help kick-start their academic careers.

Read below who the laureates are with a brief description of their research projects, and where they will conduct their research over the next two years.

• Dr Jacopo Pinna -> Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials (Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen) -> Switzerland -> ETH Zürich -> 24 months

Silver Chalcogenide Quantum Dots: Non‐Toxic Infrared Photodetectors for Next‐Generation Consumer Electronics

Infrared photodetectors are seeing unprecedented interest for applications such autonomous driving and biometric recognition. Unfortunately, available technology is too expensive or contains health and environmentally toxic materials to be implemented in consumer‐grade smart devices. This research aims to develop non‐toxic silver chalcogenide quantum dots for fabricating inexpensive infrared photodetectors suitable for consumer electronics.

• Thomas Tienkamp, MA -> Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen -> Germany -> Universität zu Köln -> 24 months

What Matters for Speech? White Matter Correlates of Speech Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease

Speech is affected in almost all individuals with Parkinson’s disease, but its exact cause remains largely unknown. Speaking relies on complex coordination between many regions in the brain that are connected via brain pathways. This project investigates whether differences in brain pathways are associated with speech decline in Parkinson’s disease.