Dutch Research Council awards grants up to €320,000 to 205 early-career scientists

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded Veni grants to 205 recently graduated doctorate students. The grants, part of the NWO’s program for early-career scientists, provide up to 320,000 euros over three years so recipients can develop their own independent research ideas. This year, research projects range from looking into how to possibly slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease to examining the link between AI and beauty standards.

The total of 205 grants marks an increase from 200 awarded last year and 174 the year before. Nearly 1,400 researchers applied for the current round. Of this year’s recipients, 115 are women and 88 are men. The gender of two recipients is unknown. Last year, 109 women and 89 men received the grants, with two of unknown gender. In earlier years, men received most of the awards.

The recipients include researchers exploring pressing scientific questions. Emma Coomans, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, will investigate whether it is possible to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Priska Breves, a communication expert at the University of Amsterdam, will study how artificial intelligence affects beauty ideals among young adults.

Aranka Ballering, a scientist at University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), will examine whether women use homeopathy and herbal medicines more often than men and why.

Tom Fuchs, a researcher at Amsterdam UMC, will focus on multiple sclerosis patients. Cognitive abilities can decline slowly during the disease, but the changes are often difficult to detect. Fuchs aims to be able to recognize the decline earlier and predict which patients are at greatest risk.

The NWO operates three main funding programs for researchers at different career stages. Veni grants support those who have just earned their doctorates.

Vidi grants provide up to 850,000 euros for researchers with several years of experience. Vici grants offer up to 1.5 million euros for senior investigators. The program names come from Julius Caesar’s Latin phrase “veni, vidi, vici”—"I came, I saw, I conquered.”