Awarded Rubicon Grants round 2010-1
Below you will find a list of awarded researchers in alphabetical order and the title of the research project. This is followed by gender, current employment and the host institution (department) where the Rubicon research will be conducted.
Why do we hear what we see?
A. Alink (m) 24-09-1983, Maastricht University -> MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (GB), 24 months
The ventriloquist illusion reveals that a visual stimulus can shift an observed sound source. It will be investigated whether this illusion also influences sensory brain regions. With this we hope to find out how the human brain integrates auditory and visual signals.
How do electrons hop to make plastics conductive?
Dr A.A. Bakulin (m) 24-08-1982, University of Groningen -> University of Cambridge, Physics Department (GB), 16 months
Electronic equipment made from plastic is starting to penetrate our everyday world and will soon change it. In plastic electronics, charges must be capable of moving easily between organic molecules. In this research, scientists plan to use laser light to observe how electrons hop from one molecule to another.
How do congenital heart defects develop?
C.J.J. Boogerd (m), 03-01-1978, Academic Medical Centre/University of Amsterdam -> University of California, San Diego (USA), 24 months
The researcher shall investigate the role of the TBX20 protein in the formation of heart valves and heart muscle. The protein is possibly involved in congenital heart defects. This protein will be knocked out in a mouse heart to gain insight into congenital heart defects.
Opinions about tradition in European literature theory
Dr B. de Bruyn (m) 29-03-1982, K.U. Leuven (B) -> Tilburg University Language and Culture (NL), 12 months
Tradition has a poor reputation in literature studies. Nevertheless, cultural history not only exhibits change but also continuity. Literature researchers from various countries and periods are therefore calling for a renewed interest for tradition; this study will compare a number of these researchers.
Attention for Parkinson's patients
H. van Dijk (f) 09-08-1977, Radboud University Nijmegen -> University of Dusseldorf, Institute for Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, University Clinic (D), 24 months
When people think about Parkinson's patients, the first thing that springs to mind is the well-known movement problems. Yet these patients also find it difficult to divide and control attention. This research will investigate how the brain cell network for attention is disrupted and how that can be changed by means of medication.
Trust versus paranoia during adolescence
Dr M.D.G. Dominguez (f) 09-11-1974, Maastricht University -> King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry (GB), 24 months
Trust is an essential aspect of human relationships. Brain research might be able to provide insights into how trust arises. This project will investigate the neural basis for the development of trust and the flipside of this, paranoia, during adolescence.
Diet and genetics in Africa
C.C. Elbers (f) 27-02-1980, University Medical Center Utrecht -> University of Pennsylvania, Department of Genetics (USA), 24 months
The origins of the human race lie in Africa. Many different ethnic groups still live there, who differ strongly in terms of language, culture, lifestyle and genetics. The researchers will study the influence of dietary patterns on the human genome in Africa.
Measuring consciousness in damaged and healthy brains
Dr S. van Gaal (m) 10-02-1980, University of Amsterdam -> Neurospin Institute, Cognitive Neurosciences (F), 24 months
The researchers will measure brain activity in healthy people and in patients with consciousness problems, for example, people in a state of coma or in a vegetative state. This will enable the researchers to determine how the brain generates our consciousness and what goes wrong when we lose it.
Understanding strange materials with the help of black holes
L. Huijse (f), 11-07-1980, University of Amsterdam -> Harvard University, Department of Physics (USA), 24 months
Some materials have unusual properties. For example, they can conduct electricity without any resistance or have an infinite number of lowest energy states. Materials with such unusual properties are often still poorly understood. The researchers will use everything possible, including black holes, to gain a better understanding of these materials.
Winning the fight against meningitis
I. Jongerius MSc (f) 30-12-1981, University Medical Center Utrecht -> Imperial College London, Section of Microbiology (GB), 24 months
Neisseria meningitidis is a bacterium that often causes meningitis. At present there is no vaccine against the most frequently occurring variant of this bacteria. The researchers shall investigate why people become ill and they shall search for a new vaccine.
How flu viruses get past our immune system
B. Kalverda (f) 02-10-1980, Netherlands Cancer Institute -> Erasmus University Medical Center, Virology (NL), 12 months
Flu viruses are continuously changing so that they cannot be recognised and attacked by our immune system. The researchers will unravel whether the immune system recognises certain patterns in the genetic material of the flu viruses and how the flu viruses change to get past this.
The interaction between personality and identity in young people
T.A. Klimstra (m) 08-07-1982, Utrecht University -> K.U. Leuven, Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development (B), 24 months
Personality describes a person's character, whereas identity reflects the extent to which a person identifies with choices about school, friendships, work and relationships. This research shall determine to what extent personality and identity influence each other and how these mutual influences correlate with psychological problems.
The fascinating life of the nitrogen cycle
D.M. Kool (f) 06-09-1982, Wageningen University and Research Centre -> Radboud University Nijmegen, Microbiology (NL), 12 months
Nitrogen has many natural forms, including harmful forms. Some microorganisms convert one form of nitrogen into another in a very unusual manner. The researchers want to unravel who, what, why and how these small but important organisms do that.
The dead are speaking
Dr G.J. Kroonen (m) 14-02-1979, Leiden University -> University of Copenhagen, Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics (DK), 24 months
The proto-Germanic language was brought to Northern Europe by the Indo-Europeans in prehistoric times. They passed their language onto the population already present. The original European languages have disappeared but not without a trace. New research will expose the remnants of these in the oldest layers of the Germanic languages.
Satisfied, but how for long?
B.G.M. van Landeghem (m) 26-01-1982, K.U. Leuven (B) -> Maastricht University, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (NL), 12 months
Do people feel happier after a salary rise or do they soon forget this piece of good fortune? How long do people keep on sulking if they have to live on less? The researchers shall attempt to answer these questions by following individuals in different countries.
An electromagnetic system simulator
R. Maaskant (m) 14-04-1978, Eindhoven University of Technology -> Chalmers University of Technology, Signals and Systems (SVE), 24 months
Antenna technology is making use of increasingly higher frequencies. Electronics will become integrated with electromagnetic antennae and wave-conducting structures. The different modules will strongly influence each other. This new challenge will be investigated using a multidisciplinary electronics and antenna approach.
Control and identification in wide-field adaptive optics
P. Massioni, MSc (m), 10-08-1980, Delft University of Technology -> University Paris (F), 24 months
Adaptive optics is a technique used on earth-based telescopes to compensate for disruptions caused by atmospheric turbulence. This research is focused on the development of innovative techniques to improve the quality of the images obtained.
How is the heart studied?
Dr M.T.M. Mommersteeg (f) 16-01-1981, University of Amsterdam -> University College London, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology (GB), 24 months
The rhythm and strength of the heart are controlled via nerves from the brain. The researchers shall study how the connections between the heart and the brain develop and which mechanism underlies this.
Tracking long-term memory consolidation and knowledge construction in the developing brain
S. Qin MSc (m) 08-01-1980, Radboud University -> Stanford University School of Medicine (USA), 24 months
Memory consolidation is the process in which newly learned information is stored in the long-term memory and is integrated with existing memories. This process is crucial for the acquisition of knowledge in the brain. However it is still largely unknown which mechanisms underlie the capacity of the developing brain from childhood to young adults to process and store ever- increasing amounts of knowledge. Insights that this research might provide in this area could possibly be of major significance in developing improved educational methods.
One algorithm, several applications
S. Rhebergen (m) 19-10-1981, University of Twente -> University of Minnesota, School of Mathematics (USA), 24 months
Mathematical algorithms are widely used to simulate flows in air and water. However, if the application changes then new algorithms are often needed. The researchers will develop an algorithm that can be used in a wider range of contexts.
Properties of high-redshift proto-clusters
Dr A.S. Saro (m) 22-08-1980, University of Trieste (I) -> Leiden University, Leiden Observatory (NL), 12 months
Clusters of galaxies are the most massive structures in the universe. Each of them can contain thousands of galaxies and millions of billions of stars. This research will study how clusters of galaxies were formed at the beginning of the universe, more than ten billion years ago.
The tick as arbovirus vector
E. Schnettler (f), 18-06-1980, Wageningen University and Research Centre -> University of Edinburgh, Division Infection and Immunity (GB), 24 months
Arbovirusses are transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks. Infections can result in severe diseases in both humans and animals. The infected mosquito or tick, however, exhibits no disease symptoms. The mosquito uses RNA interference (RNAi) to defend itself against viral infections. The precise regulation and the manner in which viruses respond to RNAi in ticks is not known, however. With the help of molecular techniques and bioinformatics, this project shall investigate the induction and exact mechanism of RNAi in ticks. The RNAi suppression of arbovirusses will also be described.
Skin cancer misleads the immune system
Dr R.M. Spaapen (m) 29-02-1980, University Medical Center Utrecht -> Netherlands Cancer Institute, Cell Biology (NL), 12 months
Skin cancer can be attacked by the immune system. Yet cancer cells know how to fend off these attacks. This research will study proteins that are excreted by skin cancer cells and will describe the negative effect of these on the scouts and soldiers of the immune system.
Living together in the mediaeval town
A. van Steensel (m) 10-07-1982, Leiden University -> University of London, Birkbeck (GB), 12 months
In the late middle ages a strong urbanisation occurred. This research will determine what the social cohesion of the new town communities was based on. It will compare the development of trust networks and institutes which helped to form life in Italian, Dutch and English towns.
Central black holes in galaxies
R.C. Struve (m) 03-11-1981, University of Groningen, Kapteyn Institute -> Onsala Space Observatory (SVE), 24 months
In the centre of a galaxy there is a super heavy black hole, which in some cases can blow large quantities of surrounding material out of the galaxy. The researcher will study the functioning of this process and investigate why it occurs in some galaxies and not in others.
Who puts the rubbish outside?
Dr F. Tafesse (m) 24-11-1978, Utrecht University -> Whitehead Institute, MIT (USA), 24 months
If something goes wrong during the production of proteins then the malformed molecules arising from this process must be cleaned up, irrespective of where they are in the cell. In this project various break down routes will be investigated and compared with each other.
Genetic switch between inflammation and bladder cancer
Dr S.H.H.M. Vermeulen (f) 15-06-1978, Radboud University Nijmegen -> University College London, Institute of Genetics (GB), 6 months
The role of inflammation in the development of bladder cancer is not clear. This research will determine whether genes that affect the inflammatory process in the body also influence the chance of bladder cancer developing and the subsequent prognosis.
Thawing the Arctic permafrost freezer
Dr J.E. Vonk (f) 20-01-1978, Stockholm University (SVE) -> Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich (CH), 24 months
Climate warming may release substantial amounts of carbon that is currently frozen in Arctic soils. This research will study the fate of this carbon: is it converted into greenhouse gases that enhance global warming or is it reburied in sediments without affecting the atmospheric carbon pool?
Why some people resent immigrants receiving social security payments
J. van der Waal (m) 07-06-1974, Erasmus University Rotterdam -> Tilburg University, Sociology (NL), 12 months
This research will seek to explain differences between European countries concerning the extent to which European immigrants are excluded from the welfare state. It will also be investigated why lower educated people want to protect people who are economically vulnerable yet resent social security payments being given to immigrants. Is this due to a lack of reciprocity or due to economic or cultural threats?
The specific modification of proteins
Dr M.D. Witte (m) 14-09-1981, Leiden University -> MIT, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research (USA), 24 months
The cell regulates the activity, role and location of proteins via a reversible modification of the protein ubiquitin. The researchers shall develop a new method to further study the role of this modification. Using this method it will be possible to selectively stimulate this modification in a controlled manner in vitro as well as in living cells.
Wind energy? That can for sure!
Dr J.A.S. Witteveen (m) 03-09-1980, Delft University of Technology -> Stanford University, Center for Turbulence Research (USA), 24 months
Scientists will make more accurate calculations on wind turbines so that an increased use of wind energy will not lead to energy failure. As the wind is unpredictable, the generation of electricity using wind power could lead to instability in the electricity grid.