How can you reclaim valuable metal from waste? And how do plants respond to friends? These are examples of the research questions young Wageningen University & Research (WUR) scientists are to work on in the coming years. Six young researchers will receive a Veni-grant from the Dutch Research Council (NWO), the national science financier.
With Vidi and Vici, Veni is part of the NWO talent programme. Veni grants are made available for excellent researchers who have recently obtained a PhD. Researchers are free to submit their own research topic within the talent programme. Thus, NWO stimulates innovative and curiosity-driven research. NWO selects researchers based on the qualities of the researcher, the innovative characteristics of the research, the research proposal's expected scientific impact, and the possible uses the generated knowledge may have.
Valuable metals and plant friends
'Breathing metal and eating poison' is the title of Martijn Diender's research. The widespread use of electronics causes an increased demand for metals. As a result, waste streams are rich in metals. Martijn Diender's research focuses on carbon monoxide using microorganisms capable of reclaiming these valuable metals from waste streams. The metals can then be recycled and the environmental impact reduced.
WUR researcher Rik Huisman intends to study how plants respond to different friends. Some plants are capable of collaborating with beneficial bacteria that sequester nitrogen from the atmosphere and make it available to the plant. The bacteria communicate with the plant in a manner similar to that of soil fungi. Nonetheless, the plant responds differently to these partners. How has this evolved?
The other four studies
Bridging the gap: How eukaryote complexity originated from prokaryote fusions and original discoveries.
Dr J.J.E. Hooff (V), Wageningen University & Research
The complex 'eukaryote' cell lies at the basis of the most visible life on Earth, such as plants, animals and fungi. This cell emerged some 2 billion years ago as a result of an extensive evolutionary transition from its simple 'prokaryote' ancestors. The researcher will investigate what genetic changes facilitated this transition.
The evolution of a rapid reaction to auxin
Dr A. Kuhn (M), Wageningen University & Research
In plants, the hormone auxin may cause rapid cellular reactions. These reactions have been conserved through evolution, but little is known about how they are generated. In this project, rapid auxin reactions in various plant breeds will be compared with the help of genetics and biochemistry in order to identify the components responsible for generating the reactions.
Science friction: the role of friction in colloidal materials
Dr B. Meer (M), Wageningen University & Research
The role of friction in a wide range of flowing and malleable materials is remarkably ill-understood at a microscopic level. Using microscopy and computer simulations, the researchers will study how friction between particles affects material properties at the building block level.
A deep-seated secret: How plant biochemistry influences soil processes
Dr M.J. Zwetsloot (V), Wageningen University & Research
Plant roots secrete a large variety of chemicals. How do these chemicals influence the soil and its functioning? This project aims to study how the subterranean biochemical profiles of various plant breeds influence the nutrient and carbon cycles. The study will yield knowledge that may be applied in the transition towards nature-inclusive and sustainable agriculture.
On Veni-grants
The Veni grants are awarded annually by the NWO. These awards are part of the 2021 Veni rounds. In recent years the NWO was forced to reschedule the Veni planning due to COVID and a hack. Last spring, this resulted in the awards being divided between the different scientific domains. The NWO stuck to the pre-hack original planning for the scientific domain ENW (no pre-registration as yet) and ZonMW (not affected by the hack). For the domains SGW and TTW, the decisions will be taken in April 2022. When all the selections have been made, the data on the full annual round will be made available.
