NWO offers scientific talent foreign experience

5 July 2011

28 young researchers will go abroad with Rubicon

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded 28 young, promising researchers funding from the Rubicon programme. Through Rubicon, NWO aims to offer Dutch scientists who have recently obtained their PhD the chance to gain research experience in other countries and equally to attract talent from abroad to the Netherlands. The programme is therefore a vehicle that allows NWO to stimulate the international mobility of scientific talent.

Most young researchers are heading for the United States and the United Kingdom. Others are off to do research in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Sweden. Seven researchers who gained their doctorates abroad are coming to the Netherlands to do research. For many scientists, experience abroad is an important part of their CV.

Research

The Rubicon researchers awarded funding will investigate a wide range of topics including psychological causes and consequences of obesity, cyber attacks with quantum computers, a role model for men, and a universal flu vaccine. The alphabetical list of researchers awarded funding provides brief descriptions of all research projects.

Rubicon

The name of the grant comes from the river Rubicon. Julius Caesar crossed the river before embarking on the series of victories that led to his famous pronouncement 'veni, vidi, vici'. Rubicon (www.nwo.nl/rubicon) is a good springboard for a Veni grant from NWO's Innovational Research Incentives Scheme. Dutch institutions that offer a place to a foreign researcher for a year receive € 55,000. Recipients of Rubicon funding, may use it to perform research for up to 24 months.

Additional financing from Brussels

For the rounds in 2010 and 2011, NWO requested and received financing from the European Commission's 'Marie Curie Cofund Action' programme. This European funding is a one-off award. In 2011 sufficient resources are available for a further two funding rounds. The deadlines for submitting proposals are 1 September and 1 December 2011 respectively.

About NWO

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is the independent Dutch science funding body and its mission is to facilitate excellent scientific research in the Netherlands by means of national competition. Each year NWO spends more than 700 million euros on grants for top research and top researchers, on innovative instruments and equipment, and on institutes where top research is performed. NWO funds the research of more than 5300 talented researchers at universities and institutes. Independent experts select proposals by means of a peer review system. NWO facilitates the transfer of knowledge to society.

..............................

Further information:

 

last modified on 23 September 2011