Three Rubicons for physics
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded 17 young, highly promising researchers funding from the Rubicon programme. In the area of physics three FOM researchers received the grant: Boris le Feber, Riccardo Frisenda and Jelmer Renema.
With Rubicon, NWO gives Dutch scientists who have recently gained their PhD the opportunity to gain research experience at leading international institutes outside of the Netherlands. Each year NWO can fund about 60 young researchers with Rubicon grants. A total of seven million euros is awarded over three funding rounds. In this round NWO received 106 applications. From these seventeen talented researchers have now received funding, nine women and eight men. The researchers awarded funding can do up to two years of research at a foreign institute. The size of the grant awarded depends on the destination chosen and the duration of the stay.
Grants awarded within the NWO Division for Physics Magnetic quantum dots for plasmonic isolation
Dr. Boris le Feber, University of Twente -> Switzerland, ETH Zurich, 18 months
In modern advanced computer chips, light flashes through tiny light channels. That light, however, does not always travel in the correct direction and therefore one-way light channels are needed. The researcher will combine nano-sized light conductors with magnetic nanoparticles that point the light in the right direction.
Molecular functionalisation of two-dimensional materials for novel optoelectronics devices
Riccardo Frisenda MSc, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft -> Spain, Institute IMDEA Nanoscience, 24 months
Two-dimensional materials are highly promising candidates for use in green and sustainable photovoltaic applications. This project will focus on molecular functionalisation of such materials for making solar cells better and cheaper.
Falling off the complexity cliff: pushing boson sampling towards the non-computable regime
Dr. Jelmer Renema, Leiden University -> United Kingdom, Oxford University, Department of Physics, 24 months
Using several light particles you can build a computer that can calculate molecules faster than any ordinary computer. The researcher will expand the capacity of this computer until it is large enough to calculate on simple molecules.
Further information
See NWO's website or contact NWO Information and Communication, +31 70 344 07 41.