Rubicon

The aim of the Rubicon programme is to encourage talented researchers at Dutch universities and research institutes run by KNAW and NWO to dedicate themselves to a career in postdoctoral research.

Rubicon offers researchers who have completed their doctorates in the past year the chance to gain experience at a top research institution outside the Netherlands for a maximum period of two years. There is also a limited opportunity to apply for a research period at an excellent Dutch research institute. However, preference will be given to researchers who apply for a grant to spend time outside the Netherlands.

Who can apply

Postgraduates who are currently engaged in doctoral research or who have been awarded a doctorate in the twelve months preceding the relevant deadline. Applicants who are still engaged in doctoral research may only apply if their supervisor provides a written declaration approving their thesis.

Women especially are urged to apply.

Researchers from abroad may apply

What can be applied for

A period of up to two years at an institution outside the Netherlands. The minimum duration is twelve months. Rubicon also offers Dutch researchers the option of using the grant to conduct research in the Netherlands, primarily designated for applications that focus on Dutch topics, e.g. Dutch language, culture and law. However, preference will be given to researchers who apply for a grant to spend time outside the Netherlands, as international research experience is likely to be an advantage at a later stage in the applicant's academic career and in applying for other NWO grants. Standard awards have been set both for periods spent abroad and for periods spent in the Netherlands.

When can be applied

• Closing date for submitting applications is 3 April 2012

Extra Information

The next closing date will be 30 August 2012. The last deadline in 2012 will be on 29 November 2012.

The Governing Board of NWO has decided to continue the funding for the Rubicon programme for 2012. Due to budget cuts it is however not possible to maintain the programme with the same conditions. Therefore as of 1 January 2012 Rubicon will no longer be open to applicants from abroad. Only applicants that have conducted scientific research at an academic research institute in the Netherlands for a period at least equivalent to three years fulltime within the five years directly preceding the submission deadline, may submit an application.

In order to promote mobility among researchers, applications will be admissible only if the candidate is to conduct the research at an institution other than the one where he or she graduated or that awarded his or her doctorate. The research must also be conducted in a country other than the one where the applicant graduated or obtained the doctorate, unless that country is the Netherlands. It is not allowed to combine research at different institutes. Depending on the nature of the project, applicants may conduct field research.

Candidates may apply for a Rubicon grant only once. An application will be deemed to have been made if the application has been accepted for consideration by NWO. Applications must be submitted by individual researchers and not by pairs or teams of researchers.

Application must be submitted via NWO's electronic submission system Iris.

Criteria

Proposals will be assessed on the basis of the evaluation criteria (as listed in the brochure which can be downloaded from this website) and certain policy criteria.

Procedure

• Multidisciplinary advisory committees will assess the applications.
• The views of external referees will not be sought.
• The final award decisions will be made by the boards of the relevant divisions/foundation.
• The entire assessment procedure will take approximately 4 months.

Committees

Three multidisciplinary advisory committees will be appointed by NWO:

• a single advisory committee for the alpha and gamma cluster, supported by the Social Sciences (MaGW) (also on behalf of Humanities (GW));
• a single advisory committee for the life sciences cluster supported by the Earth and Life Sciences (ALW) (also on behalf of Medical Sciences (ZonMw));
• and a single advisory committee for the beta cluster supported by the Physics (N) (also on behalf of the Chemical Sciences (CW), Physical Sciences (EW) divisions and the Technology Foundation (STW)).

Budget

The total amount for each 2012 Rubicon round is 2.3 million euro.

Financiers

Governing Board of NWO.

Contacts

• Ms H.R. Varwijk
  phone: +31 (0)70 349 44 37, e-mail: rubicon@nwo.nl

Documentation for applying electronically