The aim of the Veni grants is to 'create creative space for adventurous, talented, pioneering researchers, in which they can conduct research of their own choosing, develop a line of research and further develop their talent'. The Veni is a personal scientific grant aimed at researchers who have recently obtained their PhD.
Proofs and programs: categorical tools in type theory
T. de Jong, FNWI
Software bugs can lead to costly or even dangerous mistakes. How can we ensure that a computer program works as intended? Testing alone can’t preclude all faults. Required are: (1) a careful definition of what the program should do (a specification) and (2) a mathematical proof that the program adheres to this specification. As programs and proofs are usually complex, these two things require a precise and sophisticated language. Type theory is such a language. To eventually further the verification of proofs and programs, this project will extend type theory with mathematical tools from category theory.
Poking and probing particles in suspensions
J.G. Meijer, FNWI
How do soils and sediments stay stable - or suddenly collapse? To answer this, researchers study suspensions: mixtures of tiny particles in liquids that mimic the flow and failure of natural soils. Using special fluorescent particles and optical measurement techniques, the researchers will track and study the movements and rotations of all particles in 3D as the suspension is perturbed by sound waves. This allows observations on how small-scale particle motions control whether a suspension flows or remains stable. Insights from these model experiments help explain the stability and failure in geophysical systems like mudflows and dikes.
From Mathematical Insight to Cryptographic Impact
K. C. J. M. Reijnders, FNWI
Nowhere do we translate novel mathematical ideas into reality as fast as in post-quantum cryptography. Cryptographers in this field study new algorithms to encrypt and decrypt data, such as a WhatsApp message or digital payment, to ensure this remains safe and secure in the future. Hopefully, user won’t notice this transition to post-quantum cryptography, eventhough it’s a big challenge to ensure the same speed and compactness as our current-day cryptography. In this project, cryptographers translate the newest mathematical insights into cryptographic impact, to guarantee a new generation of cryptography that is safe, secure, and fast.
Integration on the Menu
J. Alkorani, FFTR
Across the Netherlands, Syrian newcomers have opened a growing number of food businesses, drawing attention to their social and economic impact. Less is known about how these ventures shape migrants themselves, particularly their religious lives. This project examines how Dutch policies that promote food entrepreneurship as a route to integration may also influence ideas of “moderate” Islam among Syrian Muslims. Focusing on the decade since the 2015 migration wave, it explores how newcomers navigate entrepreneurship, religion, and state governance. The findings will offer new insights into how integration policies shape religious identities, social cohesion, and migrant inclusion in Dutch society.
Empowered yet exhausted? Muslim women’s digital resistance and well-being
S. Azabar, FSW
While there is growing attention to Muslim women’s resistance towards Islamophobia in everyday life, surprisingly little is known about whether and how resistance takes shape on digital platforms. And we know little about the impact on women’s well-being. How, where, and why do Muslim women challenge dominant narratives online? And at which cost? Using an innovative intersectional research design, combining digital ethnography, in-depth interviews, and novel survey, this project highlights the various ways Muslim women in Belgium and the Netherlands resist marginalization on digital platforms, and investigates whether and when such resistance is empowering and/or exhausting.
The (dis)appearance of collective bargaining institutions: Learning from the origins of the Dutch poldermodel, 1850-1940
V. Delabastita, FdM
Labor market institutions of collective bargaining largely determine how much most of us earn and under which conditions we work. Yet researchers still know surprisingly little about how these institutions develop, even as they are declining across many countries, including the Netherlands. This project addresses this gap by studying how collective bargaining first emerged, using the Netherlands as a historical case study. By unearthing new long-term data, the project shows how cultural and economic shocks shaped early labor market institutions. Understanding collective bargaining’s origins is essential for understanding why it now faces pressure, and how it might be strengthened again.
Rethinking Migration Deals
A. Pijnenburg, FdR
European countries increasingly use migration deals to shift asylum and migration control to other countries. Such deals not only violate the rights of refugees and migrants but also allow Europe to evade its legal obligations by shifting responsibility to poorer countries, increasing global inequalities. This project assesses the legality of this responsibility-shifting, places the burden back on Europe by reconceptualising the role of Europe and partner countries, and identifies ways to hold them accountable. Its findings can reshape international refugee law scholarship, inform policy, open new litigation pathways, and influence public debate.
Looking deeper: Finding hidden DNA mutations with a new analysis method
W. Höps, Radboudumc
Rare diseases affect over 300 million people worldwide, but the genetic cause is unknown for most patients, prohibiting effective treatment. This study uses an advanced DNA analysis method, de novo assembly, to uncover hidden mutations that standard tests miss. By studying thousands of rare-disease patients with this method, this work will improve our understanding of complex genetic changes and help provide better diagnoses in the future.