Eight Vidi grants in physics
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded 86 innovative scientists a Vidi grant, of which eight to physicists: FOM postdoc Dr. Sameer Murthy, former FOM reseacrchers Dr. Steven Hoekstra, Dr. Wouter Roos, Dr. Brian Tighe and Dr. Jeroen van Tilburg, and Dr. Umut Gursoy, Dr. Stefanos Papanikolaou and Dr. Silke Weinfurtner . With this grant NWO gives talented researchers the opportunity to develop their own line of research and to build up their own research group. Each scientist receives a maximum amount of 800.000 Euros.
Vidi is aimed at excellent researchers who have gained several years of research experience after obtaining their PhDs. The scientists belong to the best ten to twenty percent in their discipline. A Vidi grant funds their research for a period of five years. Vidi is part of the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme, which consists of the Veni, Vidi and Vici grants.
Wisdom of black-holes
Dr. U. (Umut) Gursoy, UU – Physics
Plasma of elementary particles such as quarks and gluons and plasma of excitations in metals share a surprising property: both are related to physics of black-holes. Researchers will explore this relation to study strongly interacting plasmas.
Searching for dark matter with stationary molecules
Dr. S. (Steven) Hoekstra, RUG – KVI
The researchers will make molecules stationary so that these can be used as highly sensitive antennae. Such nano-antennae might even be able to pick up signals from the mysterious dark matter. Comparing the very accurate measurements on the molecules with the predictions from the standard model of particle physics could help to extend the boundaries of fundamental knowledge about our world.
What are black holes made up of? *
Dr. S.V. (Sameer) Murthy, Nikhef –Theory
A black hole is a region of space with a gravitational field so strong that no matter or radiation can escape. The researchers will explore the microscopic structure of black holes using newly developed mathematical techniques.
Boarding cells by imaging viral nanopirates
Dr. W. H. (Wouter) Roos, VU – Physics of Living Systems
In spite of all the immune mechanisms of cells, viruses are highly successful in penetrating cells. Using advanced atomic force and light microscopes the physicists will study this process at the molecular scale. This will ultimately clarify how these viral nanopirates board cells so effectively.
Blocking of flows and getting these going again
Dr. B.P. (Brian) Tighe, TUD – Process & Energy Department
All around us the flow of materials is blocked, for example in pipelines or in the vessels of the human body. The researchers will use computers simulations to understand the blocking of flows and how these get going again.
Minuscule differences between particles and antiparticles
Dr. J.A.N. (Jeroen) van Tilburg, Nikhef – LHCb
Particles and antiparticles behave slightly different from each other. The subtle difference can be measured using the LHCb detector at CERN. By very accurately measuring the difference it is possible to gain a glimpse of particles that we do not know about yet.
Universal oscillations due to structural relaxations
Dr. S. (Stefanos) Papanikolaou, RUG – Physics
Many complex systems, such as glasses and networks in cells, respond abruptly to stresses. When these amorphous structures become ‘softer’ and they can better relax to be more stable, the response becomes oscillatory. This research aims to explore their universal features.
Quantum Gravity in table-top experiments *
Dr. S.W. (Silke) Weinfurtner, RU – Theoretical High-Energy Physics
Quantum theory and general relativity set the foundations of modern physics, but their unification is one of the pending grand challenges. I address this issue by proposing to explore various phenomena predicted by unified quantum gravity theories in table-top experiments.
Further information
Alphabetic list of all Vidi researchers
About the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme
* These researchers accepted a job abroad and will not make use of their Vidi grant.