The Vici grant enables researchers to develop an innovative line of research and further expand a research group over the next five years. Vici is one of the largest personal scientific grants in the Netherlands and is aimed at advanced researchers. The funding instrument makes it possible to conduct research of one's own choosing. This gives innovative scientific research a boost.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is proud of the adventurous, talented, and groundbreaking researchers who clearly demonstrate the impact of scientific research with their research proposals. The laureates are, in alphabetical order:
Cardiovascular biologist Reinier Boon receives the Vici for his research The role of the endothelium in aging-induced heart failure.
As people live longer, more develop HFpEF, a common type of heart failure where the heart pumps blood but the muscle has become too stiff to fill properly. Patients feel breathless and tired, yet effective treatments are lacking. Researchers suspect that aging blood vessel cells in the heart (endothelial cells) are a key cause. Normally these cells signal to the heart muscle, but aging disrupts this communication and makes the heart stiffer. Boon's project will study these changes using patient samples, lab-grown heart tissue, and animal models, aiming to identify ways to restore communication and improve treatment for elderly patients.
Physicist Chase Broedersz receives the Vici for his research The secret social rules of cell collectives.
The movements of large groups of cells shaped us as embryos, keeps us healthy throughout life, and - tragically- allow cancers to spread. Much like flocks of birds, cells move together as a collective. Although these “social” behaviors seem complex, they do not require a central controller but emerge from simple local interactions between the cells. Broedersz' project uses advanced data-driven methods to uncover the hidden “rules of interaction” that guide such collective motion. By combining experiments with physical models, biophysicists aim to understand how cells coordinate to build, repair, or sometimes disrupt tissues, with broad implications for health and disease.
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Mathematician Sander Dahmen receives the Vici for his research Digitizing and verifying number theory.
Mathematicians rely crucially on proofs and computations for their work, yet too often their proofs are flawed and the programs carrying out their computations are buggy. The solution to these issues is to use dedicated software, called proof assistants, to check the proofs and verify the computations. This will also lead to valuable digital mathematical libraries. In Dahmen's project, he will apply proof assistants and make them more convenient to use in mathematics, and especially in number theory, where often a rich blend of theory and computation is present.
Earth scientist Janne Koornneef receives the Vici for her research Magmas from deep rocky plumes.
Plumes of hot rock rise from the deep mantle and cause spectacular volcanic eruptions with extreme CO2 emissions. The lavas carry information about our planet’s deep compositional structure that we know little about. In Koornneef's project, minerals with tiny magma inclusions from the lavas are analysed using advanced techniques, to learn how plumes form and move depending on their compositions. This knowledge is important to understand why our planet is habitable.
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Earth system scientist Sander Veraverbeke receives the Vici for his research FireSky ⚡ Fire from the Sky: how lightning fires threaten permafrost carbon.
Lightning fires are becoming more frequent and intense in permafrost regions. These soils store vast amounts of carbon, which can be released when fires trigger thawing. FireSky will use satellite data to map lightning fires and predict where and when they may occur in the future. Fieldwork in boreal North America will provide new insights into how these fires affect permafrost carbon. By combining satellite, field, and predictive data, FireSky will explore how targeted fire management can help protect permafrost carbon and support global climate goals.
NWO Talent Programme
The goal of the NWO Talent Programmes is to create space for adventurous, talented, and groundbreaking researchers, allowing them to conduct research of their choice, develop their own research line, and further cultivate their talents.
The Vici target group consists of researchers in the phase of consolidating and further developing their leadership and research group. The Vici grant can support their development in these areas. Researchers eligible for a Vici grant demonstrate academic excellence that clearly exceeds the norm and possess established leadership and mentoring qualities.
The Vici grant is intended to fund scientifically innovative research, enabling these researchers to expand their research group and further develop their research trajectory.
Read more on the NWO website.
