Four young physicists go abroad with Rubicon
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded 19 young, highly promising researchers funding from the Rubicon programme. Among them four physicists dr. Jia Gao, dr. Anthony George, dr. Maarten van de Meent and dr. Johan Mentink. With Rubicon, NWO gives researchers who have recently obtained their PhD the opportunity to gain research experience at international top institutes.
For many researchers foreign research experience is an important part of their curriculum vitae. The Rubicon laureates will carry out research into subjects such as black holes and a new generation electronics.
Rubicon
With their Rubicon grant the laureates can do research for a period of up to 24 months. The size of the grant depends upon the destination chosen and the duration of the stay. NWO received a total of 75 applications for Rubicon. This number is lower than usual due to the stricter requirements. Twenty-five percent of the proposals could be awarded funding. The award rates for men and women were more or less the same.
As a result of funding cutbacks, NWO has decided to severely limit the possibilities for doing research in the Netherlands with Rubicon funding with effect from January 2012. The annual budget for Rubicon has decreased from 9 million euros to 7 million euros. The requirements have also been tightened and a researcher applying for a Rubicon grant must have done research in the Netherlands for at least three of the previous five years.
The grant derives its name from the river Rubicon. Julius Caesar crossed this river before embarking upon his series of victories that led to the statement 'veni, vidi, vici'. Rubicon is a good springboard for a Veni grant from the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme of NWO.
New materials for new generation electronics
Dr. J. (Jia) Gao (m), University of Groningen -> Princeton University, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (US), 24 months
Progress in the area of information and communication technologies is dependent on the use of materials and methods from the semiconductor industry. This research will focus on new methods of synthesis and processing of graphene nanoribbons in order to make applications in future electronics possible.
One-atom-thick devices
Dr. A. (Antony) George (m), University of Twente -> Rice University, Ajayan Research Group (US), 24 months
A one-atom-thick sheet of carbon – graphene – is one of the most promising materials ever discovered. The study will focus on ways to pattern and manipulate graphene for realising one-atom-thick devices.
The fall of a black hole
Dr. M. (Maarten) van de Meent (m), Utrecht University -> University of Southampton, General Relativity Group (GB), 24 months
According to Einstein's theory of relativity, black holes rotating around each other emit gravity waves. Detecting these waves requires an accurate prediction of the orbits of the black holes concerned. This study will describe the orbit of a lightweight black hole around a rotating supermassive black hole.
Ultrarapid control over magnetic forces with electric fields
J.H. (Johan) Mentink (m), Radboud University -> University of Hamburg, CFEL Max Planck Research Department (DE), 24 months
The strongest forces in magnets originate from the spin-dependent interaction between electrons. The researchers will develop a new theory to investigate how magnetic forces can be controlled using ultrashort electrical pulses.
More information
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