Vici grant for research into individual differences in attention processing

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded a Vici grant to Stefan van der Stigchel, Professor of Cognitive Psychology. This prestigious grant is worth €1.5 million, which Van der Stigchel will be using to expand his research over the next five years. ‘In our research, we focus on individual differences in attention.’ 

Stefan van der Stigchel

Van der Stigchel will use his Vici grant to create the first multicultural framework for understanding individual differences in attention processing. The UU professor explains that most research on attention is carried out in the West. ‘Because of this, there is a lack of knowledge about how culture and demographics affect attention. As a result, the current models are not broadly applicable and neuropsychological tests have limited validity for a large part of our society. Understanding and communicating how individuals differ in attention processing styles – this neurodiversity – is the key to creating an open society.’

I want to show the outside world that you can carry out top-tier research in a pleasant and safe environment.

Online platforms

One of the ways Van der Stigchel plans to conduct his research is by using online platforms. ‘Through these platforms, our experiments can now reach almost everyone in the world. We’ll be conducting large-scale online research into individual differences in attention processing, linking these differences to personality traits and demographics, and incorporating this knowledge into attention models.’ 

Pleasant and safe environment

The Vici grant winner is looking forward to what lies ahead. ‘Over the next few years, I want to show the outside world that you can carry out top-tier research in a pleasant and safe environment, as is already the case in so many places within our faculty. I look forward to further expanding the club, setting up exciting research, and having a good time together as well.’

Besides Van der Stigchel six other Utrecht University researchers received a Vici grant.