Two top researchers of this faculty win Vici grants

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded three academics from the University of Groningen a so-called Vici grant. The grant is up to EUR 1,500,000 per person and is one of the largest personal grants in the Netherlands. The grants enable researchers to set up their own research groups over a period of five years.

This year there were 220 initial applicants for a Vici grant. NWO then invited 94 of them to expand their proposals. The researchers had to defend their proposals in person before an assessment committee. Based on international and national recommendations, 31 proposals were eventually selected for a grant. Among the successful candidates were seven women, two of whom are from the University of Groningen.

The Vici grants are intended for very experienced researchers who have successfully demonstrated the ability to develop their own innovative lines of research and who can function as coaches for young researchers. A Vici grant offers researchers the opportunity to create their own research groups, often leading to a structural professorial post.

The Innovational Research Incentives Scheme

The Vici grants are one of three types of grants within the ‘Innovational Research Incentives Scheme’. The other two types are the Veni grants (for recent PhD graduates) and the Vidi grants (for experienced postdocs). The Innovational Research Incentives Scheme concentrates on researchers who want to conduct challenging and innovative research. The Innovational Research Incentives Scheme was set up in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, the KNAW and the universities.

Who are the Vici winners

An alphabetical list of all successful candidates is available on the NWO website.

Winners

How to reach the optimum
Dr M.E. (Mirjam) Dür (f) 28-01-1970, Vienna (Austria), University of Groningen – Mathematics and Computer Science
If we want to do better, faster, or be more efficient, we have to optimize our performance. But how can we identify the best of all available options? This research studies mathematical methods that help answer these questions.

Hooking DNA up with other materials
Prof. A. (Andreas) Herrmann (m) 14-10-1970, Ludwigshafen am Rhein (Germany), University of Groningen – Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials
DNA is well known as the carrier for genetic information. Its unique molecular structure in combination with synthetic molecules allows an interdisciplinary team to create various multifunctional nano-objects, including ultrasensitive diagnostics and self-guided programmable drug carriers.