Ernest Gerritsen, advisor for subsidies within the TU/e Advisory Center: “Most arrangements are also accessible to international PhDs at TU/e, such as Rubicon for new PhDs who wish to gain one or two years of research experience elsewhere.” For example, dr. ir. Johan Hoefnagels, now assistant professor with the Mechanics of Materials group at the Department of Mechanics, was awarded a Rubicon grant in 2006 to conduct research at Harvard University in America.

Gerritsen also points to the innovation impulses of NWO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) - Veni, Vidi and Vici. These subsidies are intended for three-year research projects. Within that context a certain amount of research experience is regarded as an asset. Up to at most three years after having obtained their PhD, candidates may file applications for the Veni subsidy.

Vidi is earmarked for researchers with more experience, and may be applied for from three to eight years after having acquired the PhD. Last summer dr. Christian Müller, from the Chemical Engineering Department, and dr. Jeanine Prompers, from Biomedical Engineering, were selected for Vidi subsidies. One Veni subsidy was granted to dr. Patricia Dankers, who will be investigating multifunctional medicines. And dr. Mircea Lazar from Electrical Engineering won a Veni subsidy for conducting research into more flexible controllers.

“When someone files an application, we can advise them, but usually the Department itself takes care of that”, Gerritsen explains. “They also have an interest in the proper procedure being followed. If you are invited by the committee you must make sure that you present your research proposal adequately. Suppose the committee has six places - then they will invite twelve candidates from which they select six. These are subsequently visited by members of the Advisory Center, together with the Department. It is handy when there is more expertise present in the hall”, says Gerritsen./.

See for more information: www.nwo.nl, www.tue.nl > Services > Advisory Center Subsidies and Contracts.