Nikhef, the National Institute for Subatomic Physics, is a partnership between six Dutch universities including the VU and an NWO-I institute. Nikhef coordinates and leads Dutch activities in accelerator-based particle physics and astro-particle physics. Through Nikhef, the VU is a key player in the LHCb experiment at CERN, the Virgo gravitational-wave observatory, and the planned Einstein Telescope, and all of the VU's PhD candidates in these areas are part of the OSAF school. Mow-Lowry will take over from Dr. Flavia de Almeida Dias from the UvA who has recently taken up the leading role for Nikhef's ATLAS research programme.
The OCW provides PhD candidates with a broad range of education options at their 3-day 'Topical Lectures' and the annual 2-week 'BND Summer School' on particle and astro-particle physics. Nikhef were early adopters of a mentoring and progress-tracking scheme for PhDs with their 'C3' system, a three‑person committee (promotor, second mentor, and an independent member from the Research School’s Education Committee) that is set up by the Education Committee. This system bears strong similarities to the new 'Candidate Advisor' scheme.