UT researchers Christian Beckmann (MIRA) and Pascal Jonkheijm (MESA+) are each to receive a Vidi grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). This grant of up to 800,000 euros is intended for talented scientists to give them the opportunity to develop their own line of research and to build a research team. Both scientists are studying 'fingerprints': one dealing with brain data, and the other with cells.
Dr Christian Beckmann is a professor in the field of neuroimaging at the MIRA Institute, and is based at the Donders Institute in Nijmegen. His research looks at how different parts of the brain communicate with each other. The key to understanding this communication is not data analysis, but data understanding. Beckmann’s research should lead to techniques to create ‘fingerprints’ of brain data, making it possible to investigate differences in behaviour.
Pascal Jonkheijm
Dr Pascal Jonkheijm is an assistant professor in the MESA+ Department of Molecular Nanofabrication. He is researching the ‘fingerprints’ of cells.Cell membranes have dozens of receptors that are crucial for the transfer of all kinds of signals. Jonkheijm is working on chips with switchable simulated cell membranes in order to increase our understanding of all sorts of cellular processes. The knowledge he is generating through his research is of great importance for studies into biomaterials for use in regenerative medicine.
Vidi
Vidi is one of the three grant types involved in NWO’s Innovational Research Incentives Scheme. The other two grant types are Veni (for new PhDs) and Vici (for highly experienced researchers). In this funding round, 432 researchers submitted an application for a Vidi grant, of which 86 were awarded.
The Vidi grant programme is aimed at outstanding researchers who have successfully conducted research for several years following their doctoral studies. These scientists are among the best ten to twenty per cent of their field, according to NWO. A Vidi grant enables them to conduct research for a period of five years.
