Seven UU-researchers receive VICI grant
1.5 million euro for research
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has granted Vici grants to seven researchers of Utrecht University. They will each receive 1.5 million euros.
7 of the 34 VICI's are for UU-researchers
The Vici grant is a personal grant for outstanding, senior researchers who have successfully demonstrated the ability to develop their own innovative lines of research. Vici researchers are among the top ten percent in their research field. They have also proven their ability to coach young researchers. Vici laureates are allowed to put together their own research centre. In total 34 Vici grants have been awarded in the Netherlands, seven of which go to researchers from Utrecht University.
The granted Vici projects
Visions for the Future
Prof. Dr. Ingrid Robeyns (Humanities)
how can we make a systematic comparison and evaluation of alternative visions for the future?
Our current socio-economic system is confronted with several problems, such as ecological unsustainability and increasing inequality. In reaction, several alternative visions for the future have been formulated, such as the doughnut-economy, the wellbeing-economy, the economy for the common good, and basis income society.
But how can we make a systematic comparison and evaluation of those visions? This project makes a comparative normative analysis of these proposed visions, develops a framework to conduct this analysis, and searches for hybrid or new
The Dutch Global Age
Prof Dr Thijs Weststeijn (Humanities)
“How did Netherlandish art contribute to a global worldview?
The art of the Dutch “golden” age has many non-Western elements, from the Islamic scarf of Vermeer’s Girl with Pearl Earring to Rembrandt’s Chinese porcelain. The project examines how Netherlandish art has contributed to a global worldview and demonstrates the contemporary relevance of Netherlandish Old Masters in a globalizing world.
Differences in attention
Prof Dr Stefan van der Stigchel (Social Sciences)
We still know little about individual differences in the way we perceive the world.
Attention determines what you perceive from the world around you. However, we know little about individual differences in the way we perceive the world. In this research, we map out these individual differences and use this knowledge to develop better diagnostical tests and treatments for attentional problems.
Transport in neurons
Prof Dr Lukas Kaptein (Science)
This research will use innovative microscopy to map the roads and traffic rules within neurons, in health and disease.
Long protrusions of neurons, axons, wire our nervous system. Their extreme length is enabled by motor proteins that transport cellular components over microtubules. Disruption of this process can result in disease. This research will use innovative microscopy to map the axonal roads and traffic rules in health and disease.
Circular-by-design: making chemical building blocks and materials more sustainably
Prof Dr Pieter Bruijnincx (Science)
In this project, we develop new synthesis strategies to produce carbon-containing materials more sustainably.
We need to change the way we meet our society’s demands for carbon-containing materials. In this project, we put circularity central to molecular redesign of the chemicals and materials we daily use and develop new synthesis strategies to produce them more sustainably.
Rejuvenation treatment for worn out intervertebral discs
Prof Dr Marianna Tryfonidou (Veterinary Medicine)
For lower back pain - which can have a great impact on everyday life - no good treatment exists yet.
More than 200 million people worldwide suffer from lower back pain due to worn intervertebral discs. These cushions between the vertebrae are dried out and worn out. For this back pain - which can have a great impact on daily life - no good treatment exists yet. In this project Marianna Tryfonidou investigates the potential of a nano rejuvenation cure for worn out intervertebral discs.
Unveiling the Janus face of extracellular vesicles in host-virus interactions
Dr Esther Nolte-’t Hoen (Veterinary Medicine)
I'm going to investigate how miniscule vesicles produced by our cells help spread viruses
Cells communicate by exchanging small vesicles that contain information encoded in proteins and genetic material. Viruses exploit this form of communication in unknown ways. This research will identify how these small vesicles help viruses spread or rather betray the virus by setting off the alarm bells of our immune system.