Veni is aimed at “adventurous, talented and groundbreaking researchers” who have recently obtained their PhD. Together with Vidi and Vici, the grant is part of the NWO Talent Programme and is awarded annually.
Make or break: Interplay between nuclear condensates and nuclear envelope integrity
Anne Janssen, FNWI
The cell nucleus, containing our genetic information, is protected by a lipid membrane called the nuclear envelope. The integrity of the envelope is of vital importance to cellular health and envelope failure has emerged as a hallmark of cancer and aging-related diseases. Proteins in our cells can separate from the surrounding environment, like oil in water, forming condensates. Condensates have been shown to be both beneficial and detrimental to cellular membranes under different circumstances. Abnormal condensation has been associated with aging diseases. In this project, the researcher will study how condensates with different properties affect the nuclear envelope.
Stressed Out: Illuminating the pathological solidification of stress granules in neurodegenerative disease
Joep Joosten, FNWI
Protein aggregates are a key feature of many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These aggregates often originate from liquid cellular structures such as stress granules, which gradually solidify under conditions of chronic stress. However, the exact mechanisms driving this solidification process remain poorly understood. This research will explore these mechanisms, pinpointing specific protein-protein interactions that promote the transformation from liquid granules to solid aggregates. Uncovering these molecular details will contribute to our understanding of neurodegenerative disease development, and could also pave the way for innovative new therapies to slow or prevent neurodegenerative diseases.
Probing Asymptotically Safe Quantum Gravity and its Causal Structure
Marc Schiffer, FNWI
Understanding the quantum properties of spacetime is a key outstanding challenge of modern physics. I address it in a scenario called asymptotic safety, where our universe becomes self-similar at microscopic scales, like a fractal. To explore whether nature can realize this, I study, if particles like those we observe at macroscopic scales, are consistent with such a self-similarity. I will employ two independent methods to gain robust insights into this fascinating question. Additionally, I will lift an important approximation of previous studies, which neglected the difference between space and time for technical reasons.
Piecing Together the Gravitational-Wave Progenitor Puzzle
Lieke van Son, FNWI
Gravitational waves are ripples in space-time caused by collisions between pares of black holes and neutron stars (the remnants of massive stars). We now have a decade of such detections, but we still do not know how these pairs form or why they merge. The key lies in understanding their massive stellar progenitors. This project uses a range of numerical simulations to study interactions between massive stars. By benchmarking the simulations with data from upcoming observational surveys in 2025 and 2026, we aim to uncover the processes that drive these extraordinary cosmic events.
Foundations of Runtime Verification of Hyperproperties (VerHyp)
Jana Wagemaker, FNWI
One method to verify the correctness of a software system is by analysing its current execution trace, which is called runtime verification. The system under analysis can have a single execution trace, but it can also consist of multiple traces, eg. when the system is distributed. Correctness specifications of such distributed systems are called hyperproperties. The researcher develops a theory of runtime verification of such hyperproperties, which then answers the question in what situations runtime verification is an appropriate technique to use for distributed systems, and furthermore sheds light on what guarantees the runtime verification process provides.
How do we learn from the outcomes of our actions?
Bob Bramson, Donders Institute
In order to adapt your behaviour after disappointing outcomes it is important to correctly estimate the causes that led to such outcomes. The brain continuously tries to learn those causes to make better decisions in the future. The current studies will test how people learn the causes behind rewards and punishments, and how that learning is different for nearby or far away threats. Brain stimulation will then be used to influence learning. Finally, the ability to learn different situations is related to anxious personality traits, potentially resulting in new possibilities for treatment based on brain-stimulation.
I need to know! How curiosity promotes learning in brain and behaviour
Lieke van Lieshout, Donders Institute
Curiosity is a powerful force for learning, but how can we make sure that we stay curious? This proposal will investigate how we can keep our curiosity alive when we have the chance to dive deeper into a certain topic. The goal is to understand how curiosity promotes our learning and to provide scientific insights that are relevant for education. Imagine not just answering a question, but diving deeper into a topic while staying curious. This study reveals how this process boosts our ability to learn in brain and behaviour.
Seeing eye to eye? How our understanding of discrimination affects challenging it
Nella Geurts, FSW
Ethno-racial discrimination is widespread in the Netherlands, yet surprisingly little is known about whether and how bystanders identify and respond to such discrimination. This project investigates the diverse interpretations of discrimination held by bystanders and examines how these shape the ways bystanders challenge or enable discrimination, like confronting perpetrators, reporting incidents and supporting anti-discrimination policies. Specific attention is given to the pivotal role of situational differences, such as power (a)symmetry between perpetrator and target. By employing a mixed-methods design – combining experimental, survey and qualitative data – this project provides critical insights to improve policy efforts aiming to combat discrimination.
Intervening in school bullying: Which strategies work best for which cases?
Chloé Tolmatcheff, FSW
Many children and adolescents are victims of school bullying, yet researchers still don't know the best ways to intervene to stop bullying cases. Research on this topic is complex, but using AI, this project will identify which intervention strategies are most effective for which cases and develop a practical guidance tool for practitioners. In addition, the project will explore if dealing with specific bullying cases can have a positive influence on all students in the school, by showing them that adults do not tolerate bullying and take action when it occurs.
Mix and Match: synapses shaping human neuronal development and plasticity in health and disease
Nicky Scheefhals, Radboudumc/Donders Institute
The balance between excitatory (stimulating) and inhibitory (dampening) synapses is crucial for proper brain function, but is often disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders. This project investigates “mixed synapses”, a unique type where excitatory and inhibitory components converge. These synapses potentially play a key role in synaptic balance and plasticity, but remain largely unexplored. Using advanced human neuronal models and cutting-edge technologies to map the protein composition of synapses with high precision, I aim to study how mixed synapses shape brain development and what goes wrong in disorders. These insights could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Improving OUTcomes of rectal cancer surgery with video-based PERFORMance data – OUTPERFORM project
Frans van Workum, Radboudumc
How a surgeon technically performs an operation is essential for its outcome. However, this is not measured or evaluated in current clinical practice and surgeons do not receive regular feedback on how they technically perform operations.
The OUTPERFORM project investigates to what extent surgical performance is related to outcome for rectal cancer patients in the Netherlands by assessing videos and correlating performance to patient outcome. In addition, surgeons assess their peers based on surgical videos and discuss results in interactive video sessions. The project investigates to what extent this leads to better technical performance and better outcomes for patients.