In the Open Competition Domain Science-M programme of the NWO (Dutch Research Council), 21 applications were honoured, of which Radboud researchers were the main applicants in five cases. ENW M grants range from 400,000 to 800,000 euros and are intended for innovative, fundamental research of high quality and/or scientific urgency.
Analysis of Self-Assembly in Polymers (ASAP)
Riccardo Cristoferi, Institute for Mathematics, Astrophysics and Particle Physics (IMAPP), Faculty of Scienceder Natuurwetenschappen, Wiskunde en Informatica (FNWI)
Polymers of the future will have the ability to adapt, reshape, and self-repaIr However, a deep understanding of the mechanisms behind such pattern formation is needed first for this vision to become reality. With this project, Cristoferi will use rigorous mathematical analysis to investigate the emergence of self- assembly in polymers and create mathematical tools to unleash their full power.
Growing dynamic hydrogel actuators that reconfigure to changing tasks
Peter Korevaar, Institute for Molecules and Materials, FNWI
Materials that spontaneously “morph” their structure and optimize themselves to particular functions will open entirely new pathways towards adaptive materials or soft robotics. The researchers will establish interactive hydrogels that self-assemble from a “design less” state and can get their morphology optimized to perform targeted mechanical operations upon swelling and contraction – in analogy to muscles. Hydrogels will be formed around an array of electrodes and integrate input signals from the electrodes via electrochemical reactions, supramolecular assemblies and dynamic conductive pathways to locally enhance or suppress hydrogel growth, swelling and contraction: enabling far more complex swelling/contraction routines then classical hydrogels generate.
Measuring the undetectable
Gijs Nelemans, IMAPP, FNWI
There are a large number of double stars in the Universe that are undetectable, yet very interesting. They collectively produce a Gravitational Wave “murmur”, the Astrophysical Gravitational Wave background (AGWB). Nelemans will, for the first time, model this comprehensively, including all types of binaries. The resulting models will be used to help detect the AGWB and when detected enable us using the data to infer the properties of the undetectable binaries. The models also help to subtract the AGWB to uncover fainter signals from the Early Universe.
Taming complex multiphysics problems for waves
Vanja Nikolić, IMAPP, FNWI
This project will develop a new mathematical methodology for handling a class of nonlinear differential equations that model interactions of acoustic waves with other phenomena, such as heat transfer or oscillating microbubbles. Multiphysics interactions of this kind are central to many ultrasound applications under development, ranging from noninvasive cancer treatments to contrast imaging and targeted drug delivery. The researchers will answer open questions about the properties of the underlying systems and, by leveraging the gained information and their multi-time-scale nature, design more efficient numerical methods for their control.
Precision matters
Marieke Postma, Nikhef, also professor by special appointment at IMAPP/FNWI
We, the earth, the stars – everything in the universe is made of matter and not antimatter, and we do not know why. An exciting possibility is that this matter-antimatter asymmetry was created just picoseconds after the Big Bang, when the matter particles became massive. This research proposal aims to very precisely alculate the predicitons for this scenario, and to confront it with the wealth of current and upcoming experimental data.