Two Kapteyners awarded Vidi grants

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded 81 experienced researchers a Vidi grant of €800,000. With this grant, the researchers can develop their own innovative five-year research plans and can establish their own research groups. Five of the researchers awarded are conducting their research at the University of Groningen (UG). The three female researchers and two male researchers will be able to develop their own innovative research plans and set up their own research groups. Two of the five UG Vidi laureates are part of the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute: dr. Else Starkenburg and dr. Lingyu Wang. The Vidi grants are awarded annually by the NWO as part of the NWO Talent Programme (formerly: the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme).

Dr. Else Starkenburg, Kapteyn: Stories from the infant years of our Milky Way

What is now an imposing galaxy was once very small. The oldest stars are our witnesses of the galaxy’s early youth. This research traces these stars efficiently and combines all the information that they provide us into a unique story.

Dr. Lingyu Wang, SRON/Kapteyn: Clashes between cosmic titans

The evolution of galaxies is an unsolved puzzle. Spectacular clashes between galaxies can fundamentally change the colliding galaxies. By applying artificial intelligence to powerful new surveys of the universe, researchers will be able to closely measure the impact of collisions on the growth of galaxies and black holes for the first time.