AMOLF researchers awarded Vici grants

AMOLF group leaders Marileen Dogterom, Mischa Bonn and Pieter Rein ten Wolde have each been awarded a Vici grant for the research proposals they submitted to the Netherlands Organisation of Scientific Research (NWO). Each grant amounts to 1.2 million euros.

Each year NWO awards grants to excellent, highly experienced researchers from all areas of science who have successfully developed an innovative line of research. Of the 221 preliminary applications, 30 research proposals were awarded a Vici grant. Three of these went to AMOLF researchers, which is an extraordinary achievement for a relatively small research institute like AMOLF.
The three Vicis were spread over physics, chemistry and biology.

Put proteins in their place – Marileen Dogterom
The skeleton of living cells is largely formed by hollow protein tubes called microtubuli. Marileen Dogterom’s research aims to examine the role of the dynamics and power generation of microtubuli when transporting proteins to their proper place in living cells.

Dynamics in cell membranes – Mischa Bonn
The cell membrane – the container of the cell – does much more than merely keep all the cell constituents together. Amongst other things, the molecules in the membrane regulate transportation and transmit signals. Mischa Bonn’s research aims to find out how and, above all, how quickly these molecules do their work.

The multiplexes of biochemical signals – Pieter Rein ten Wolde
Biochemical networks of interacting biomolecules are the analogue computers of life. Just as several telephone calls can be sent through a single telephone line, cells can send several biochemical signals through a single biochemical network. Pieter Rein ten Wolde’s research aims to clarify these so-called multiplexes.