Veni grants for Scott Waitukaitus & Andrew Musser

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) awarded Veni grants to the AMOLF researchers Scott Waitukaitus and Andrew Musser. In total 158 researchers received a Veni grant with a maximum of 250.000 euro.

About the proposals
Scott Waitukaitus (Mechanical Metamaterials) will study The Active Dynamics of the Elastic Leidenfrost Effect. This effect is well known from the hovering of water droplets in a hot pan. Waitukaitus will use water-soaked bouncy balls that do not gently hover, but chaotically jump around when heated.  The long-term goal is to make materials that come to life during heating.

Andrew Musser (Hybrid Solar Cells and Ultrafast Spectroscopy) will be looking into Surfing the Wave in Hybrid Photovoltaics. Photovoltaics convert sunlight into electricity, but these devices lose a large amount of energy as heat. Some molecules can capture this heat as useful energy. Musser aims to learn how this process is driven by the way the molecules vibrate.

About the grants
Veni grants are individual grants from NWO to promote scientific talent. Veni researchers gained their PhD no more than three years ago. They are free to choose the subject of their research. With this approach, NWO and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science encourage curiosity-driven and innovative research. Veni is part of NWO’s Talent Scheme (Veni, Vidi and Vici) aimed at different career phases of scientists.

Scott Waitukaitus

Andrew Musser