Six Vici grants for physics research
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded six innovative physicists a so-called Vici grant. Dirk Bouwmeester and Antoine van Oijen are currently FOM workgroup leaders and Frieder Mugele is chair of the Phenomological Physics advisory committee. Jean-Sébastien Caux is a well-known face at FOM where he was a senior researcher and project leader. The Vici grant is worth a maximum of 1.500.000 euros per person and is therefore one of the largest individual grants awarded in the Netherlands. The researchers can use the grant to build up their own research group over a period of five years. In this round the grant was awarded to 32 scientists.
Vici, just like the other grants from the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme, is intended for innovative and groundbreaking researchers. With the grant, researchers can build up their own research group over a period of five years. Vici is therefore not just an incentive for the researchers who receive it but also creates opportunities for a large number of young researchers.
The Vici grants is one of three funding instruments from the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme. The others are the Veni grant (for new postdoctoral researchers) and the Vidi grant (for experienced postdoctoral researchers). The Innovational Research Incentives Scheme is aimed at researchers who want to do challenging and groundbreaking research. The scheme has been set up in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science (KNAW) and the Dutch universities.
The six physics-related research proposals awarded funding are detailed below. The complete list of the 32 proposals funded and the associated press release can be found at http://www.nwo.nl/nwohome.nsf/pages/NWOP_8DNCKP.
Control of nanomaterials
Prof. E.P.A.M. (Erik) Bakkers (m) 18-12-1972, Eindhoven University of Technology – Physics / Delft University of Technology – Physics
Nanomaterials will become important for a wide variety of applications. We will investigate the growth mechanism of semiconductor nanowires in order to engineer the optical and electrical properties at the atomic scale.
Seeking the boundaries of quantum mechanics
Prof. D. (Dirk) Bouwmeester (m) 25-11-1967, LEI – Quantum Optics
Despite the revolutionary scientific contribution of quantum mechanics, we still do not know exactly how fundamental this theory is. Using measurements on small mirrors at extremely low temperatures, the researchers will search for the possible boundaries of quantum mechanics and of four-dimensional space-time.
Bethe liquids: a new perspective on strong correlations
Dr. J.S. (Jean-Sébastien) Caux (m) 06-11-1971 (Canada), University of Amsterdam – Theoretical Physics
Actual experimental findings for quantum magnets, optical patterns and nanodots are scarcely understood using the existing theory. This research will develop a new theoretical framework to fully describe the effects of strong interactions in low-dimension, quantum condensed material.
Electrically switchable superhydrophobic surfaces
Prof. F. (Frieder) Mugele (m) 15-12-1966, University of Twente – Physics of Complex Fluids (PCF)
Drop formation and flow behaviour of small quantities of liquid plays a vital role in many pieces of high-tech equipment. In this programme, superhydrophobicity and electrowetting will be combined to manipulate drops. This will result in the creation of functionalised surfaces with which the hydrodynamic, optical and acoustic properties of water-substrate boundary surfaces can be reversed in a previously unknown manner.
Taking a closer look at the DNA copying machine
Prof. A.M. (Antoine) van Oijen (m) 06-05-1972, University of Groningen – Single-Molecule Biophysics
Each organism needs to duplicate its DNA during cell division. This complex process is realised by a large number of proteins that unravel the DNA and make two identical copies of it. The aim of this research is to develop new microscopy techniques to gain a better understanding of how the various proteins involved collaborate with each other.
Traffic control in the cell
Dr. E.J.G. (Erwin) Peterman (m) 05-02-1970, VU University Amsterdam– Physics of Complex Systems
Our cells contain busy 'highways' where building materials, cell parts and signalling substances are driven along by motor proteins. This research shall develop new microscopes that will allow researchers to measure, count and follow these motor proteins in living cells on an individual basis.