The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded Veni grants to Jop Briët, Jiyin He, Wouter Koolen, Marc Stevens and Xiaodong Zhuge of CWI. The funding allows these researchers, who have recently obtained their PhD, to conduct independent research and develop their ideas for a period of three years. The Veni is one of three types of grants under the prestigious Innovational Research Incentives Scheme of NWO.
Jop Briët (Algorithms & Complexity) - ‘Kwantum en klassieke databescherming’
When digital information is communicated or stored, data gets lost due to noise. This project will use new mathematical techniques, including techniques from quantum mechanics, to determine how this negative effect can be reduced.
Jiyin He (Information Access) – ‘Behaviour-aware search evaluation for information retrieval'
Accurate evaluation metrics are the basis for designing and developing effective search systems. Standard search evaluation metrics do not consider how users search in reality and therefore do not match user experience in reality. This project will devise an evaluation approach capable of capturing the variability of user search behaviours.
Wouter Koolen (Algorithms & Complexity) – ‘Leren met het juiste tempo’
Computer systems that can learn to be more capable at their tasks are widely used. Current systems have to be manually adjusted to match the pace which with the program learns to the difficulty of the task. This project will develop new programs that can learn to adjust their own learning pace.
Marc Stevens (Cryptology) – ‘Extra beveiligingslaag tegen vervalste digitale handtekeningen’
Digital signatures and other cryptographic standards are crucial for Internet security. This research project will focus on a new additional security layer that protects against flaws in widely used standards. This can counteract threat such as the forged digital signatures that were found in the Flame super malware.
Xiaodong Zhuge (Scientific Computing). ‘High-throughput 3D imaging for nanoscience’
A crucial question in nanoscience is how the three-dimensional structure of microscopic particles (biological specimens, nanomaterials) is organized in large volumes. This project will develop new volume reconstruction methods to enable high-throughput imaging at nanometer resolution.
The Veni grant is one of the personal grants of NWO established to stimulate talented, creative researchers. It amounts to a maximum of 250.000 euro, allowing the recipient to do research for three years. Obtaining this grant is an important step in a scientific career.
