NWO offers international experience to young scientific talent

5 April 2011

29 young researchers will go abroad with Rubicon

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded 29 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 Belgium, Germany, Estonia and Finland. An American, an Australian and a New Zeeland researcher are coming to the Netherlands. For many scientists, experience abroad is an important part of their CV.

Rubicon is specially designed to keep young talent in science. The programme is for promising young researchers who have recently obtained their PhD, are still at the start of their scientific careers and are expected, on the basis of their scientific qualities, to go on to occupy an important position in the Dutch scientific community.

A total of 172 researchers submitted applications; 29 of them will now receive a Rubicon grant. The level of funding depends on the chosen destination. 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.

The Rubicon researchers awarded funding will investigate a wide range of topics including the secret behind the penalty kick, molecular disks, cooperative birds and messages from the Big Bang. Go to the alphabetical list of the researchers receiving funding along with a brief description of all the research projects.

Additional financing from Brussels

A recent evaluation (2010) of the Rubicon programme revealed, among other things, that within the scientific community there is a need for a programme that offers young researchers experience abroad. Future funding of Rubicon is, however, uncertain. The Ministry of Education has not yet made budget available for continuation of the programme. In 2011 there are enough funds for two grant rounds. 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 and not a structural replacement for the programme budget.

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 under the NWO's Innovative Research Incentives Scheme.

About NWO

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is the principal 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 euro 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.

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last modified on 27 April 2011