Researchers of TU Delft contribute globally recognised research in fields as diverse as quantum nano, bio-nanotechnology, civil engineering, maritime technology, architecture, transport, water management, aerospace technology and robotics. Some of them have been awarded an honorary distinction or prize for their academic achievements, or received a substantial research grant. We are proud to present a selection of these prizes and the scientists that won them.
On this page, we have included both the excellence programs of the ERC and NWO, which are seen as important indicators for scientific excellence (see for example the national ‘Balans van de Wetenschap’ (Science balance sheet), as well as important accreditations that focus specifically on engineering sciences.
Fotocredits header: NWO, fotografie: Bram Saeys
Excellence programmes
The European Union grants, through the European Research Council (ERC) scholarships to scientists doing fundamental and ground-breaking research. The ERC awards five types of grants. There are personal grants for early-career scientists (Starting Grant), grants for more experienced scientists (Consolidator Grant) and grants for established researchers leading in their field (Advanced Grant).
The ERC Proof of Concept Grant helps ERC grant holders to bridge the gap between research and commercial or societal potential. In addition to the personal grants, ERC also awards a grant to ground-breaking, interdisciplinary partnerships: the Synergy Grant. For an overview of the ERC Grants granted to TU Delft scientists please check the ERC website below.
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is one of the main funders of science in the Netherlands. The organization awards, among other prizes, the Spinoza Prize - the highest award in the Netherlands for fundamental science. The Stevin Prize can be considered as the equivalent of this within the applied sciences. In addition, NWO awards the main, national personal excellence subsidie: the Talent Scheme (Veni, Vidi, Vici) for researchers conducting innovative research. Excellent teamwork can be distinguished with a Gravitation (Zwaartekracht) grant, intended for scientific consortia that have the potential to be among the world leaders in their field.
Below you can find an overview of grants awarded by NWO during the previous year.
2021
Veni
Towards realistic models for spatiotemporal data
dr. Kirsten Kirchner
Domain: Science
New approach to numerical methods for Maxwell’s equations
dr. Carolina Urzua Torres
Domain: Science
Understanding emergent quantum states atom-by-atom
dr. Koen Bastiaans
Domain: Science
Engineered topological quantum networks
dr. Eliska Greplová
Domain: Science
Smart microscopes to see the quantum world
dr. Kaveh Lahabi
Domain: Science
Sensing local properties for novel spin-qubit operations
dr. Maximilian Russ
Domain: Science
Investigating unconventional superconductivity in layered, magnetic, quantum materials
dr. Yaojia Wang
Domain: Science
The Garden Complex
dr. ir. Bieke Cattoor
Domain: SSH
Mattering Minds: Understanding the Ethical Lives of Technologically Embedded Beings with 4E
dr. Janna van Grunsven
Domain: SSH
Physics-informed AI to avoid power blackouts in the energy transition
dr. Jochen Cremer
Domain: AES
Sustainable and Miniature Power Solutions for Future Internet-of-Things
dr. Sijun Du
Domain: AES
The ‘Plug-and-Play Radionuclide Generator’: Nanoparticle-Based Recyclable Target Materials
dr. ir. Robin de Kruijff
Domain: AES
Nanoplastic – Macroproblem? Unraveling removal mechanisms during water treatment
Dr. dipl.-ing. Kim Mare Lompe
Domain: AES
Peatland: living on a gassy soil. Revealing the role of gas on the behaviour of peats
dr. Stefano Muraro
Domain: AES
Regenerative propellers: sustainable and quiet electric propeller aircraft with in-flight energy recovery
dr. ir. Tomas Sinnige
Domain: AES
From signal-based modeling to sensation-based modeling
dr. Yasemin Vardar
Domain: AES
Vidi
Democratizing Cloud Application Programming
Dr. Asterios Katsifodimos
Domain: AES
Physics-informed data-driven modelling and control of floating wind turbines
Dr. Ir. A. Viré
Domain: AES
Space duster on sunlight
Dr. M.J. Heiligers
Domain: AES
Game Theory Empowered by Data Science and Control Theory to Improve Metastatic Cancer Treatment
Dr. K. Stankova
Domain: Science
Sustainable learning of Artificial Intelligence from large-scale noisy data
Dr. K. Batselier
Domain: Science
Robots with a gentle touch
Dr. M. Wiertlewski
Domain: AES
Moire materials from one-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures
Dr. S. Conesa-Boj
Domain: Science
Hydrogen Bubbles Quantified
Dr. ir. J.W. Haverkort
Domain: AES
Vici
Quantum gets heavy
Prof. Dr. Gary Steele
Domain: Science
Mathematical foundations for equations with noise
Prof. dr. ir. Mark Veraar
Domain: Science
Apart from general prizes and grants, there are specific distinctions within the beta and engineering sciences that can be regarded as a proxy for excellence. Important recognitions include the Prins Friso Engeneering prize, which is awarded annually to the Dutch engineer of the year: an engineer who distinguishes his or herself in expertise, innovative capacity, social impact and entrepreneurship. Once every five years, the Christiaan Huygens science prize is dedicated to physics and likewise once every five year the prize is dedicated to information and communication technology.
2020
In 2020, various award ceremonies were cancelled or postponed unfortunately. Nonetheless, several specific distinctions within the beta and engineering sciences were awarded to TU Delft scientists. For example, the Dutch Prize for ICT Research was awarded to a TU Delft scientist for the second time in a row: this year, the honour went to prof.dr. Pablo Cesar. He is given the award for his research on modelling and controlling complex collections of media objects. Dr. Emiel Lorist received the KWG Price for his doctoral research. Dr.ir. Ad van Well and colleagues (3mE) received the Vanadium award, for the best scientific article concerning research into vanadium. Additionally, dr. Arthur Gorter de Vries (Biotechnology) received the Westerdijk Award for the best dissertation of the year in the category Environmental & Applied Microbiology, and Jasmijn Hassing received the KNVM/MVMM Kiem Award for young microbiology researchers. The H.I. Waterman Sustainability Award was awarded to dr.ir. Marie-Eve Aubin-Tam. This award is presented biannually to a researcher working at Applied Sciences of TU Delft who contributes to developments that simultaneously strengthen our economy and improve the environment.
2019
In 2019, several of these specific distinctions within the beta and engineering sciences were awarded to TU Delft scientists. For example, The Dutch Royal Insititute of Engineers (KIVI) awarded the KIVI Academic Society Award 2019 to Prof.dr.ir. Andy van den Dobbelsteen, professor of Climate Design & Sustainability and Prof.dr. Kobus Kuipers received, as one of the founders of “nanophotonics”, the Physica Prize 2019, a prize awarded annually to an eminent physicist working in the Netherlands. Additionally, Prof.dr. Elmar Eisemann received the Dutch Prize for ICT Research 2019, Dr. Dion Gijswijt was awarded the N.G. De Bruijn Prize by the Royal Dutch Mathematical Society for his influential paper on combinatorial optimisation, Dr. Menno Veldhorst has been awarded the Nicholas Kurti Science Prize 2019 for his ground-breaking work on silicon- and germanium-based electron spin quantum bits, and Prof.dr. Dariu Gavrila has received the Outstanding Research Award 2019 from the IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Society.
2018
In 2018, several of these specific distinctions within the beta and engineering sciences were awarded to TU Delft scientists. Dr. Nima Tolou, for example, was awarded the Prins Friso Engineering prize as Dutch Engineer of the Year, prof.dr. Mark van Loosdrecht received the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize, prof.ir.em. Hans de Jonge has been awarded the Hudig Medal – a medal only awarded once every five years - for his efforts in the fields of Housing and Urban Planning, prof.dr.ir. Sybrand van der Zwaag was the first Dutch scientist to receive the Grande Médaille of the French Society for Metallurgy and Materials SF2M (Société Française de Metallurgie et de Matériaux), prof.dr. Jack Pronk was honored with the International Metabolic Engineering Award for his contribution to metabolic engineering and prof.dr.ir. Jan Dirk Jansen received a Distinguished Membership and Distinguished Achievement Award from the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Science, engineering and design: these are the cornerstones of research at TU Delft. Sometimes, researchers of TU Delft are awarded design prizes. A new grab design, developed by transport engineer dr.ir. Dingena Schot and her team in cooperation with the Dutch grab manufacturer Nemag, has won an international design prize in 2018, the Red Dot Award. Previously, the design received an Innovative Technology Award.
For more prizes and grants, see the overview with related news items on this page.
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Team ZED from the Delft University of Technology has won 4TU Impact Challenge
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Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing Program is the winner of HiTMaT 2020
The team, coordinated by Dr. Vera Popovich from MSE, TU Delft and in close collaboration with M2i, University of Twente, GKN Fokker and Beamler is the winner of HTSM High Tech Materials Call 2020.
05 November 2020
Fourteen TU Delft researchers receive Veni grant
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded a Veni grant worth up to 250,000 euros to fourteen highly promising young TU Delft scientists.
04 November 2020
Vidi grants for four leading TU Delft researchers
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded four TU Delft researchers a Vidi grant worth 800,000 euros.
01 October 2020
TRUST PV Project
The Photovoltaic Material and Devices (PVMD) group at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) has been granted funding by the European Commission Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) under the Horizon 2020 framework programme for the TRUST-PV project.