Four VENI grants

Four researchers from the Faculty of Science and Engineering (formerly known as the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences) have been awarded a VENI grant within the framework of NWO’s Innovational Research Incentives Scheme. VENI grants are intended for young researchers who have recently gained a PhD and have significant and original talent for innovative research. Twelve researchers at the University of Groningen have been awarded VENI grants.

VENI researchers are awarded a total of up to EUR 250,000 over a period of three years. The Innovational Research Incentives Scheme offers three types of grants each year: not only the VENI grants, but also VIDI grants for experienced postdocs and VICI grants for senior researchers.

The new VENI awardees at the Faculty of Science and Engineering are:

Biologically inspired information architecture for robots
Dr M. (Ming) Cao (m) 10-03-1977, University of Groningen – Industrial Technology and Management
Insight into the behaviour of groups of animals inspires new designs in robot teams. By observing how animals attune their behaviour to the other animals in their group, the project will provide methodologies for effectively spreading and processing information among robots without the need for a general coordinating system.

How are new species created?

Dr M.E. (Martine) Maan (f) 28-05-1974, Breda, University of Groningen – Biology
In Lake Victoria in East Africa, hundreds of species of brightly coloured fish have emerged in a short space of time. This research analyses the role of visual communication in this – murky water leads to adapted fish eyes, with possible major consequences for colour observation and partner choice.

How to reproduce without males
Dr T. (Tanja) Schwander (f) 03-07-1978, Brugg (Switzerland), University of Groningen - Ecology and Evolution
Most species comprise males and females but some have found ways to persist without mating and the production of males. This research project aims to find the genes underlying such asexual reproduction and characterize the differences between sexual and all-female organisms.

Molecules building tiny metallic patterns
Dr. T. (Tibor) Kudernac (m) 19-09-1978, Košice (Slowakije), RUG - Chemistry
Nanotechnology is based on extremely small structures. Molecules and atoms are the smallest bricks that man can use to build objects. Researchers will use molecules to guide atoms of metals in order to construct tiny metallic structures.