Awarded Rubicon Grants round 2009-3

Solving the memory loss of superconducting quantum circuits
Dr R. Barends (m) 06-05-1981, Delft University of Technology -> University of California, Santa Barbara (USA), 24 months
Superconducting qubits, the memory elements for quantum computers, forget their information too quickly due to scattering on surfaces. The researcher shall use resonators to map these scattering processes and then use this information to improve the qubits.

The role of donor B cells in the rejection of stem cells
Dr T. Cantaert (f) 24-09-1981, University of Amsterdam -> Yale University – Immunobiology (USA), 24 months
Stem cell transplantation is carried out in patients with blood cancer and immune deficiencies. Successful transplantation is dependent on the donor stem cells that the recipient’s body must accept. This research shall unravel the role of B cells in the process.

Cooperation in dynamic networks
Dr R. Corten (m) 25-12-1979, Utrecht University -> Stanford University – Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (USA), 12 months
Cooperation can be facilitated by means of social networks and partner choice, but frequently both mechanisms play a role. Using theory formation, simulation models and laboratory experiments, this research shall investigate how cooperation in such dynamic social networks arises.

Sexual citizenship in the city
Dr N.A.J.M. van Doorn (m) 07-06-1981, University of Amsterdam -> Johns Hopkins University – Department of Political Science (USA), 18 months
Sexuality and citizenship are strongly related to each other. But how is ‘sexual citizenship’ expressed? This project will investigate the role of affective relationships and media technologies in the expression of sexual citizenship in two urban collectives: a ‘queer’ punk scene and a Baptist church community in Baltimore.

Molecular detection and spectroscopy using plasmon and nanowire detectors
Dr X. Duan MSc (m), University of Twente -> Yale University – Electrical Engineering Department (USA), 24 months
Nanomaterials are highly promising building blocks for future equipment. Researchers shall integrate synthesised nanowires in functional nano equipment, which forms a structure that can simultaneously measure optical and electrical signals for molecular detection.

Unravelling blood vessel blockages in sickle cell disease
Dr M.H.A.M. Fens (m) 29-12-1977, Utrecht University Children’s Hospital ->Oakland Research Institute (CHORI) – Division of Hematology/Oncology (USA), 24 months
The blockage of blood vessels leads to severe complications in sickle cell disease. These blockages are caused by interactions between blood cells and endothelial cells. This research intends to identify the main causal agents and consequences of these interactions that lead to blood vessel blockage.

The origin of illness
Dr B. Ferwerda (m) 16-03-1978, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre -> University of Pennsylvania – Department of Genetics (USA), 24 months
Pathogens are mostly recognised and cleared up, but some make us ill. This is partly due to genetic differences between people’s immune systems. This research will examine the genetics of African populations in order to understand the variations in this system.

Robust estimation and policy analysis in dynamic economic models
Z.Y. Gao (m) 08-12-1981, University of Amsterdam -> Yale University – Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, (USA), 24 months
Economic policy makers try to take decisions that increase welfare. They mostly do that based on a mathematical economic model. This research shall determine what happens if the policy maker emphatically includes the shortcomings of the model in making his or her decision.

Improving immunity to tuberculosis
Dr J.W.J. van Heijst (m) 05-06-1981, Netherlands Cancer Institute -> Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center – Immunology (USA), 24 months
Tuberculosis is a very severe infectious disease, which is caused by bacteria that our immune system cannot clear up properly. The aim of this research is to gain a better understanding as to why the immune system fails and how this immunity can be improved in the future.

Controlling the direction of cell migration
T.M. Hermans (m) 04-06-1982, Eindhoven University of Technology -> Northwestern University – The Grzybowski group: self-assembly and adaptive systems (USA), 24 months
Miniaturisation of fluid flows, inspired by the semiconductor industry, have made it possible to control the concentration of a substance at each point in a reservoir (a gradient). The migration of cells in the body is determined by gradients of nutrients and temperature. The researchers want to subject cancer cells to different gradients in order to understand how undesirable migration (metastasing) can be prevented.

Anglo-Dutch premium auctions
A. Hu (f) 14-11-1980, University of Amsterdam -> Tilburg University – Department of Economics (NL), 12 months
In premium auctions, the seller pays the highest bidders a premium to encourage competitive bidding. This project will provide a theoretical and empirical investigation of the most popular Anglo-Dutch premium auction, with the aim of understanding when and why it is superior.

Development: a sensitive issue
S.E.V. Linsen MSc (m) 25-12-1980, Hubrecht Institute/Utrecht University -> Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences – CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology (CN), 24 months
The development of an embryo proceeds according to a strict pattern. In addition to this, environmental factors can influence the refinement of body parts. The researchers shall investigate how signals from the environment reach an embryo and how these can exert an effect on the individual.

Unravelling blood clots
Dr C. Maas (m) 06-12-1980, University Medical Center Utrecht -> Karolinska Institute – Center of Molecular Medicine (SE), 12 months
Blood clots are necessary to prevent blood loss, but can also be lethal if they block blood vessels (thrombosis). The protein prekallikrein contributes to both blood clotting and inflammatory responses. The aim of this research is to investigate how prekallikrein contributes to thrombosis.

Pumping or wilting?
Dr L. Markesteijn (m) 02-10-1979, Wageningen University and Research Centre -> University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Department of Biological Sciences (USA), 24 months
The availability of water is vitally important for the spread of tropical tree species. However, the climate is changing and the tropics are becoming increasingly drier. This study shall investigate how trees deal with water shortages and how this determines their future functioning.

Anxiety! The unintended attention grabber
Dr M. Mulckhuyse (f) 04-12-1970, VU University Amsterdam-> University of Ghent – Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology (BE), 24 months
Being able to detect danger quickly is a vital aspect of survival. Therefore, our attention is sometimes attracted before we consciously observe the exact nature of the threat. The researchers shall examine how this attention system works in the brain.

New genes in children’s cancer
Dr J. Mullenders (m) 17-11-1977, Utrecht University -> Cancer Institute, New York University School of Medicine – Pathology (USA), 24 months
Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood and frequently occurs in children. Leukaemia is caused by damaged genes. The researchers will try to find these genes by knocking them out one by one. Then by working out how these genes function, it might be possible to develop new drugs against cancer.

Trade union pursuance of wage equalisation and government interventions
Dr D.M. Oude Nijhuis (m) 19-02-1979, Leiden University -> Yale University – Department of Political Science (USA), 24 months
The level of wage equalisation differs considerably between countries. National differences in trade union structure play a major role in this. This research shall examine under which conditions trade unions pursue wage equalisation and government interventions that result in a redistribution of income among employees.

Storing sunlight in hydrogen
Dr J.J.H. Pijpers (m) 01-03-1980, University of Amsterdam -> MIT – Chemistry (USA), 15 months
The use of solar energy stands or falls with large-scale energy storage. Hydrogen is a good storage medium for energy. This research shall determine if sunlight can be used directly to split water (H2O) into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2).

The adaptive nature of targeted behaviour
Dr E. Poljac (f) 16-11-1976, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen -> University of Oxford – Department of Experimental Psychology (UK), 24 months
Cognitive load of targeted behaviour is often explained in behavioural science in terms of limiting our cognitive system. This project will investigate if the cognitive control of targeted behaviour can perhaps be better understood as an adaptive process with which optimal performances can be achieved.

Skin cancer in its worst form
Dr M.H.C. van Rooijen (f) 31-08-1976, Utrecht University -> Harvard Medical School, Children’s Hospital Boston – Oncology (USA), 24 months
Melanoma is the most frequently occurring and lethal form of skin cancer. The researchers shall look for different errors in the genetic material that are associated with the development of skin cancer.

Chameleon words
Dr E. Schoorlemmer (m) 31-01-1980, Leiden University -> MIT – Linguistics (USA), 24 months
Some words are just like a chameleon. They adapt themselves to their environment. For example, the Dutch word mooi (beautiful) has an ‘e’ added to it if it precedes the word man (man) as in 'een mooie man' (a beautiful man). However, that is not the case for huis (house) as in 'een mooi huis' (a beautiful house). This research shall assess why this happens.

Gene HS3ST1 in cardiovascular diseases
Dr N.C. Smits (f) 08-01-1976, Radboud University Nijmegen -> Dartmouth Medical School – Department of Medicine (USA), 24 months
Cardiovascular diseases have a complex, multifactorial basis. However, which genetic mutations are the cause of this is not clear. The researchers shall study whether the HS3ST1 gene is associated with cardiovascular diseases and possibly find new leads for treatment.

Coating hollow caged structures
Dr M.M.J. Smulders (m) 19-04-1981, Eindhoven University of Technology -> University of Cambridge – Department of Chemistry (UK), 24 months
Hollow, cage-like structures can be used to isolate various guest compounds. The aim of this research is to investigate how the inside of such cage can be adapted to obtain a higher selectivity for a specific guest.

The logic of interaction
Dr W.S. Swierstra (m) 28-12-1981, University of Nottingham -> Radboud University Nijmegen – Computing Science Department (NL), 12 months
A computer program is usually designed to constantly respond to instructions from a user. That is completely different from a mathematical function that performs a finite calculation. How can we nevertheless provide arguments about such programs and demonstrate that they are correct?

Unstable Molecules in Space Ices
E.D. Tenenbaum (f) 19-11-1982, University of Arizona -> Leiden University – Leiden Observatory (NL), 12 months
The researcher will investigate chemical reactions in interstellar ice by simulating conditions in the laboratory similar to those prevailing in space. A unique set-up shall be used to visualise the small radicals that play an important role in the formation of complex molecules.

How bacteria see light
Dr K.C. Toh (m) 25-03-1974, VU University Amsterdam -> Imperial College London – Division of Molecular Biosciences (UK), 24 months
Bacteria can detect light by means of a light-sensitive protein. The researcher shall study ways of improving this characteristic; this is very useful for applications in research into medicines and the production of food.

Automated data-driven modelling of linear parameter-varying systems
Dr R. Tóth (m) 07-09-1979, Delft University of Technology -> University of California, Berkeley (USA), 8 months
Automated mechatronic systems (wafer scanners, aeroplanes, etc.) require low complexity yet extremely accurate models to achieve the desired functionality using digital control technology. This research proposes an innovative technique to derive such models based on common data originating from the application. A specific characteristic of the resulting models is that high complexity can be expressed in a linear structure.

Geometry of particles and knots
Dr R.I. van der Veen (m) 23-09-1982, University of Amsterdam, KdV Institute for Mathematics -> University of California (USA), 24 months
What is space? What is time? The researchers will study how time and space spontaneously develop if you zoom out in a model of colliding particles. The same phenomenon plays an important role in the mathematics underlying symmetry and the construction of knots.

Just need to wait for the spare part now...
Dr I.M.H. Vliegen (f), 05-11-1981, Eindhoven University of Technology -> University of Pennsylvania – The Wharton School (USA), 12 months
The repair of, for example, medical and defence equipment requires both service engineers and reserve parts to be present. The researchers shall study planning models that include the availability of both sources of help. This will enable repairs to be carried out faster so that the equipment becomes operational again sooner.

The role of the structure of DNA in the production and germination of seeds
Dr Van Zanten (m) 10-06-1979, Utrecht University -> Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research – Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics (GER), 24 months
The transition in plants from flowering to seed production and then germination requires a large-scale change in the activity of genes that guide these processes. This project shall study whether changes in the structure of the DNA and its biochemical characteristics, contribute to the changes in gene activity and how this process influences seed production and germination.

Shared genetic risk factors of autoimmune diseases
Dr A. Zhernakova (f) 19-04-1971, University Medical Center Utrecht -> Harvard Medical School, Boston (USA), 6 months
Recently, a large number of genome-wide scans have been carried for various autoimmune diseases. All of these scans have revealed an overlap between the sensitivity genes involved in these diseases. The researchers want to carry out a cross-disease meta-analysis of three disease-specific genome-wide association studies, namely coeliac disease, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. This research will provide more insights into the common genetic architecture of autoimmune diseases.

Special proteins as antibacterial coatings
Dr W. van Zoelen (f) 01-09-1981, Radboud University Nijmegen ->University of California, Berkeley – Department of Chemical Engineering (USA), 24 months
In terms of molecular structure, peptoids are similar to peptides, the building blocks of proteins, yet they do not occur in nature. It will be investigated whether these proteins devised by people can be used as anti-fouling/antibacterial coatings on, for example, ship’s skins and medical equipment.

The last stages in cell division
W. van Zon BSc (m) 29-05-1983, VU University Amsterdam -> University of Manchester – Life Sciences (UK), 24 months
For a successful cell division, two cells must be formed and a complete copy of the genetic material must end up in both cells. The protein machines that regulate this will be accurately described during this research.

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