Professor Loi receives Hestia funding

Professor Maria Antonietta Loi of the Zernike Institute receives funding from the NWO to allow a refugee with an academic background to participate in her research project. This refugee, who had a university position in the country of origin, will be able to contribute for a maximum of eighteen months. In this way, he or she can join a Dutch research project and build a network. The funding comes from the NWO programme 'Hestia - Impulse for Refugees in Science.'

The refugee researcher will participate in Loi's project on perovskite solar cells. The improvement in stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells does not depend only on the active layer but also on the materials used to transport charge carriers away. This project focuses on developing metal chalcogenide nanoparticles that can be used as an efficient and cheap transport layer in perovskite solar cells.

Connection to Dutch research

Researchers who had to flee their homeland due to war or another threatening situation often face obstacles such as a different working language and culture in the countries where they settle. This makes it more difficult for them to continue their academic careers. NWO introduced the ‘Hestia – Impulse for Refugees in Science’ pilot call to give these academics the chance to join ongoing Dutch research projects. Project leaders and main applicants of a research project already funded by NWO or ZonMw can use this programme to apply for funding to enable a refugee to join their project.