Theoretical physicist dr. Michal Heller (Institute of Physics) has received an NWO Veni award in the spring round of the Veni program for his proposal 'The gauge-gravity duality and its applications to the physics of strong interactions'. The grant allows him to further shape his academic career as an independent researcher.

His project aims at a better understanding of strong interactions, such as those in the early universe, inside neutron stars and in certain accelerator experiments, leading to the formation of new phases of matter. The project uses a novel tool, the gauge-gravity duality, to shed light on strong interactions in such extreme conditions.

NWO Veni grant

The Veni grant is one of the three types of grant available under the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme (www.nwo.nl/vernieuwingsimpuls). The other two grants are the Vidi (for experienced postdocs) and the Vici (for very experienced researchers). The Scheme was set up in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and the Dutch universities. With the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme, NWO offers talented researchers the opportunity to carry out innovative and groundbreaking research.