Faculty of Science Overall impression 2013 Introduction The year 2013 put the spotlight on the Faculty of Science’s top research, both in the and abroad, because of many prestigious awards including a Spinoza Prize, Gravitation subsidies, an ERC Synergy Grant and many others. Our Professors have stepped up their efforts to join forces with related disciplines and further developed a focus on various social challenges such as sustainable energy, fundamentals of health, future food and understan- ding complex systems. We believe that is of vital importance to build a bridge between fundamental research and the challenges the world is facing, because it enables us to make a valuable contribution to the progress of science while being a strong knowledge partner for society and the business community. We therefore view educating students as a great privilege, not only because we want our students to contribute to top science in the future, but also becau- se we want to teach them the knowledge and skills that will enable them to make a difference in the world.

I am proud of what our faculty achieved this year and I want to share my pri- de with you by looking back on the past year by means of the telling exam- ples in this overall impression of 2013!

Professor Gerrit van Meer Dean of the Faculty of Science

Research areas The Faculty of Science is committed to the following research themes:

Research theme Research theme Research theme Research theme Research theme Research theme Research theme

Foundations of Integrative Water, Climate Future Food Game Research Science for Life Energy & Resources Complex Systems Bioinformatics & Ecosystems

The faculty also makes a significant contribution to the following research focus areas of the Utrecht University:

Focus areas Focus areas Focus areas Focus areas History and Philosophy Education for Neuroscience & Future Deltas of the Sciences and Learning Societies Cognition Utrecht the Humanities

1 Education

Bachelor's programmes Master's programmes Intake Intake

Pharmaceutical Sciences & CPS Biology Graduate School of Information and Mathematics / Natural Sciences Computing Sciences Graduate School of Physics and Information Mathematics & Life Sciences School of Technology Applications Astronomy Pharmacy Chemistry 403 344 206 142 141 728 627 251 233 213 368 120 112 82 79 199 160 105 52 142 145 1132 1129 119

2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012

Source: Studielink/VSNU, overview of 30 September 2013 compared to 2012 Source: Bio-BT management data. Overview of September and February, intake in the academic year 2013/2014 compared to 2012/2013 The 2013 intake of students in Master’s programmes was at the regular level again after a slight decrease between 2011 and 2012. We noticed an increase for several programmes of the Graduate School of Natural Sciences. At the Graduate School of Life Sciences the increase was mainly due to the greater popularity of the programme Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences.

2 Education

State Secretary Dekker finds inspiration for talent policy at U-Talent Academy In September 2013, more than 100 students from 5VWO classes started the U-Talent Academy, the new programme of the Faculty of Science for talented and motivated VWO students of Junior College Utrecht. U-Talent Academy offers students a wide and all-encompassing introduction to themes from the science subjects, a thorough orientati- on on scientific research and attention to personal development study attitude.

On 11 November, State Secretary Dekker visited U-Talent Academy. He talked to the secondary school students and teachers involved about their experiences. “The entire education system and all individual students will benefit from talent policy”, Dekker said.

3 Education A thesis that reads like a novel Best Master’s thesis for Pablo Acuña Luongo Pablo Acuña Luongo, graduate of the Master’s programme History and Philosophy of Science, won Utrecht University’s 2013 thesis prize in the category ‘Best Master’s Thesis’. In his thesis, he combined philosophy of science and physics. “His thesis is written in a clear and exciting way and reads like a novel”, said the judges. They also praised him for the wide range, applicability and accessibility of his work.

Five science Bachelor students make the selection Christine Verbeke wins Student Research Award From among more than 120 submissions, the research of Christine Verbeke, student of Physics and Astronomy at Utrecht University, was awarded the Student Research Award 2013, a €1,500 prize for the best Bachelor research in the Netherlands. According to the jury, Verbeke’s research into future energy sources is a highly relevant and innovative subject. The jury also praised her for the clear way she presented her research.

4 Valorisation and outreach

‘Creative industry’ subsidy for Time Capsule and Mycelium Design TNO and NWO established the Creative Industry programme It is a ground-breaking, digital historical research that combi- to make scientific knowledge accessible to the creative industry, nes old and new knowledge.” The acquired knowledge can be to develop new knowledge and to establish connections between linked to current medication and offers advantages to future science and practice. In 2013, the Faculty of Science received medication research. two subsidies from the programme, one for the research programme Time Capsule and one for Mycelium Design. Mycelium design The toadstool species Schizophyllum has a network of hyp- Time Capsule hal threads, which is called the mycelium. By combining different databases, Toine The mycelium found on the Chinese Wall Pieters, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, appears to have different features than those looks for connections between the medicinal found in Dutch woods. “We want to find benefits of plants that are not obvious at first out which genes are responsible for these glance. Pieters: “All databases use diffe- features and what the relevance is in natu- rent semantics, which makes it difficult to re”, says Han Wösten, Professor of Biology. compare them. Therefore, we started working with information Several designers and architects are also working with the fungus scientists to create a semantic thesaurus which can compare the in the project. Their goal is to make sustainable materials from databases. the fungus and to incorporate them in contemporary products.

5 Valorisation and outreach

Simulating large crowds in 3D Crowdsourcing with tea bags How does a large crowd move through a train station or at an Together with a team of international scientists, Utrecht eco- event such as King’s Day? Information scientists of Utrecht Uni- logists Joost Keuskamp, Bas Dingemans and Margriet Hefting versity developed new generation software to thought of a way to conduct cheap and easy soil research: the accurately simulate crowd movements. The Tea Bag Index. Tea bags contain plant material. Burying them software programs offers life-like, super-fast in soil for a while is a simple way to measure how long the and super-easy 3D simulations of crowds of decomposition process takes. By comparing decomposition up to 80,000 people. The software program’s at various locations across the world, it is easier to predict the principle is derived from Utrechts gaming consequences of climate change. research. Utrecht-based company INCON- TROL Simulation Solutions uses the software program, for example, to simulate walking routes for NS/ProRail at large train stations in the Netherlands that are being renovated.

Game ‘Hooked!’ discovers secret to popular songs What is it that makes you immediately recognise that well- known song? Why does one song stick in your head and the other does not? In order to find out more about this, researchers of Utrecht University, the University of and the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision developed Hooked!, a game with music from the Radio 2 Top 2000. Hooked! can be downloaded for free and the players’ answers are used as research data. 6 Subsidies & Grants

Faculty of Science part of prestigious Gravitation programme With the Gravitation programme, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Sci- ence and research financier NWO invest in long-term and large-scale top research. The Faculty of Science was closely involved in three of the six awarded proposals, thereby providing an important contribution to Utrecht University’s strategic themes ‘Sustainabi- lity’ and ‘Life Sciences’.

7 Subsidies & Grants

Out of the box cooperation in Chemical immunology: Reading the past to predict catalysis research € 31,9 million a new discipline € 27,6 million the future € 28 million At the Netherlands Center for Multiscale If a person’s immune system does not The Netherlands Earth System Science Catalytic Energy Conversion, researchers function properly, infection and cancer Centre (ESSC) is focused on research of Utrecht University (coordinator), TU may develop. If it functions too well, into climate of the past, present and Eindhoven and Twente University joined this may lead to auto-immune diseases, future to be able to better predict future forces to radically change processes with meaning that the body attacks its own climate circumstances on our planet. The which fuels and chemical building blocks immune system, such as is the case with new centre brings together paleoclima- are made. The goal is to develop new rheumatoid arthritis and multiple scle- tologists, bio-geo scientists and climate catalysis processes and to perfect existing rosis. Increasing knowledge of how this modellers. ones at all relevant scales: from the atomic works at the molecular level is the way to level up to the level of the actual reactor successfully tackle diseases. This know- On behalf of the Faculty of Science, cli- in which the catalysis takes place. ledge will enable researchers to develop mate researchers of the Institute for Ma- innovative medication. Researchers of rine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht Bert Weckhuysen, Professor of Che- the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Leiden (IMAU), under the supervision of Hans mistry: “This subsidy from the Ministry University, Utrecht University and UMC Oerlemans, Professor of Physics & Astro- of Education, Culture and Science and St Radboud have therefore developed a nomy, Utrecht University are involved in NWO is a huge appreciation and boost new discipline: chemical immunology. At the centre. for all researchers involved and will the joint Institute for Chemical Immuno- undoubtedly work like a magnet for logy (ICI) the immunologists and che- talent, also from abroad.” mists conduct joint research and develop a multidisciplinary programme. Bert Weckhuysen (Chemistry) is the lead applicant and Alfons van Blaade- “You have to know your enemy to beat ren (Physics and Astronomy) the fellow him”, says fellow applicant Albert Heck, applicant. Professor of Biomolecular Mass Spectro- metry and Proteomics.

8 Personal awards

NWO-Spinoza NWO-Vici ERC-Synergy Grant ERC-Synergy Grant NWO-Vidi NWO-Vidi en Bert Weckhuysen (Chemistry) Marius Crainic (Mathematics) Anna Akhmanova (Biology), (in cooperation with Marileen Leonie Bentsink (Biology) ERC-Starting Grant Dogterom, Professor of Technical Sciences of AMOLF/TU Delft) Lukas Kapitein (Biology)

NWO-Vidi NWO-Vidi NWO-Vidi NWO-Veni NWO-Veni NWO-Veni Ronald Pierik (Biology) Maarten Altelaar (Pharma- Umut Gursoy (Physics) Harold Mac Gillavry (Biology) Tom Groot Kormelink (Pharmaceu- Celia Berkers (Chemistry) ceutical Sciences) tical Sciences)

NWO-Veni Daniele Sepe (Mathematics) NWO-Veni Laura Filion (Physics)

ERC-Advanced Grant ERC-Advanced Grant ERC-Consolidator Grant ERC-Consolidator Grant Krijn de Jong (Chemistry) Frank de Groot (Chemistry Jan Broersen (Information and Casper Hoogenraad (Biology) UU / Stanford University US) Computing Sciences)

Contract cases in 2013 Type of contract Total 2013 Total 2012 Bilateral consultancy contracts 3 3 Bilateral contracts with a company 23 24 Bilateral contracts with a university 7 6 Consortium agreements 20 5 Non-disclosure agreements 20 9 Material transfer agreements 15 13 Cooperation agreements (including PPC) 6 12 Other contract cases 13 13 Totals 107 85

9 Research

Key figures 2013 2012

Scientific publications 1834 1715

PhD theses 146 139

Source: Metis

Research volume 2013 per department; in FTEs and broken down by type of funding¹

Type of Biology Pharmaceutical Physics and Chemistry Mathematics Information Total

funding Sciences Astronomy and Computing 1 Government funding(1) is a grant for Sciences Utrecht University from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Indirect 1 34 32 29 35 18 16 164 funding (2) comprises grants from research financiers NWO - including 2 65 17 35 50 13 21 201 STW and FOM - and KNAW for research programmes as well as personal grants, 3 35 66 10 42 17 14 185 such as Veni, Vidi and Vici grants. Contract funding (3) comprises grants Total 2013 135 115 74 127 48 51 550 from all other financiers, such as the EU, ministries, companies and non-profit Total 2012 134 119 107 107 39 53 559 organisations.

Source: Metis 10 Publications Increasing susceptibility

New insight into the effects of cancer medication other substances. This knowledge is vital for a better understan- Chemotherapy is an effective way to fight tumours, but it has ding of the influence of plants on the climate. Rupert Hilzinger, severe side-effects and sometimes tumours become insusceptible Utrecht University “Our new tool is important to increase our to medication. If you want understanding of our climate system’s biosphere.” to develop new and better An article about the research was published in the renowned journal Science. medication, it is very impor- tant to understand how the medicinines interact with our Ultra-thin graphene electrical wires cells. By applying advanced Electronics will become faster microscopic techniques, cell and more advanced in the future. biologists of the Faculty of The semi-conductors we use Science discovered that certain proteins make the cellular tubes now will no longer be able to more susceptible to medication. Anna Akhmanova, Professor of cope, calling for new materials Cell Biology: “Our results could contribute to finding better with better conductivity. Dr cancer medication.” Ingmar Swart and colleagues of The results of the research funded by NWO and the European Commission Utrecht University and Aalto were published in the renowned journal PNAS in May 2013. University (Finland) have successfully established electrical con- tact with tiny graphene wires through a single chemical con- nection. Thanks to its unique electrical properties, graphene is a New instrument detects hundreds of organic promising material for use in future computers. substances over forest The results were published in 2013 in the renowned scientific journal Nature Climate researchers of Utrecht University and the University of Communications. Berkeley (US) have managed to make a detailed measurement of the uptake and emission of organic substances. So far Too small for Archimedes this was only possible for the Does an object float on top of a fluid, or not? That was the ques- most important substances tion chemists of Utrecht University and the FOM Foundation that are responsible for that studied in their research of tiny solid particles only a few nano- typical forest smell, but now metres in size. Their research is relevant for studies into quantum the researchers were also dots, which are tiny semi-conductor crystals with quantum able to measure hundreds of mechanical features. Under UV light they emit light of a varying

11 Publications colour, depending on the size of the particle. Ben Erné: “On the surface of a fluid, the particles will ar- range themselves in a nice grid. We can scoop them up from that fluid phase and use them in other ap- plications. For the first time ever we have successfully created a 3D image of the surface of the liquid.” The research results were published in the journal Physical Review Letters. New model for the development of blood cells Theoretical biologist Professor Rob de Boer and researchers Protection against most toxic substance discovered of the Netherlands Cancer Institute are developing a barcode A research team led by Utrecht University and the Swiss Paul technique to follow cells and their successors. De Boer: “The Scherrer Institute developed a substance that protects nerve barcode has made it possible cells against the highly toxic substance botulinetoxine. The pro- for us to follow cells in live tective substance is interesting organisms instead of only in for a number of applications. petri dishes.” The codes yield “This means that an antidote an incredible amount of com- could possibly be developed plex data. After all codes are to protect people from the processed, De Boer applies va- toxic substance botulinetoxine rious mathematical models to as a preventative measure”, translate the complex data into simpler underlying mechanisms. says Casper Hoogenraad, The Utrecht analyses were published in Science and Nature. Professor of Cellular Dynamics at the Faculty of Science. “Our substance could also be developed further to improve existing medical and cosmetic applications of botulinetoxine.” The research results were published in the renowned journal Nature.

In this short movie Utrecht researchers Josta Kevenaar and Casper Hoogenraad explain their research.

12 Dynamic study societies

Photo: PiXel commissie Studievereniging Sticky

Like every year, Utrecht study societies In Dublin, Europe’s Silicon Valley, students Study societies of the Faculty organised many interesting meetings and visited IT giants Microsoft, Google, Riot of Science fascinating study trips in 2013. Below are Games, SAP and LinkedIn. Organised by study A-Eskwadraat a few examples of such events. society Sticky M.B.V. Mebiose Utrechtse Biologen Vereniging (UBV) At the Chemistry and Safety symposium, TEDx is one of the largest career-orien- U.S.S. Proton Chemistry students talked with companies ted activities Mebiose organised for medical Unitas Pharmaceuticorum about security measures regarding the biologists. Renowned scientists and successful Sticky handling of chemical substances. Organised by alumni hold short talks about their careers. Incognito study society U.S.S. Proton The keynote speaker was Anton Pijpers, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University. Organised by study society M.B.V. Mebiose

13 Organisatie

From left to right: Hans Dröge (alumnus of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Dennis Hesseling (alumnus of Mathematics), Diederik Zijderveld (alumnus of Biology), Thekla Teunis Msc (alumna of Mathematics, alumna of Language and Culture Studies), Beatrice Boots (alumna of the Faculty of Geosciences), Missing is ir. Marijke Vos, alumna of Biology of Wageningen University and member of the for GroenLinks.

Linking in with top sector policy Board team of the Faculty of Science The Faculty of Science has had a Social Advisory Committee Gerrit van Meer, Dean since the end of 2012. The six members of the council act as Sjef Smeekens, Vice Dean of Research a sounding board for the Faculty Board in the area of strate- Gerard Barkema, Vice Dean of Education gic choices in education and research. In 2013 the committee Klaas Druijf, Faculty Director members could seriously start their work. Important points Felix Nolet, student member of attention this year were the new strategy and the research focus areas of Utrecht University. “We join the discussion Organisational chart of the Faculty of Science about priority areas and how the programme of the Faculty Dean of Science can link up with the top sector policy”, says Hans Dröge, alumnus of Pharmaceutical Sciences and member of the Social Advisory Committee. “Interdisciplinary cooperation Faculty Council Board team Faculty Director in one programme with an external focus on social issues will

I believe lead to new insights, in the interest of science and the Biology Services Dutch economy.” Pharmaceutical Sciences

Chemistry

Faculty of Science in FTEs Physics and Astronomy

Permanent FTEs) Temporary (FTEs) total Computing Sciences Academic staff 264 of who 564 of who 828 72 Professors 354 PhD candidates Mathematics m/f: 81/19% m/f: 62/38% Graduate School of Natural Sciences / Research institutes Non-academic 311 43 354 Graduate School of Life Sciences / Research institutes staff m/f: 56/44% m/f: 44/56% Undergraduate School of Sciences School of Pharmacy Total 2013 575 607 1182

Total 2012 642 733 1375 The Faculty of Science efficiently uses its funds. The overhead/turnover ratio is not higher than 20% (result of Utrecht University in Berenschot benchmark 2013). Within this percentage, a shift from general support Reference date: 31-12-2013 in FTEs (excl. teaching assistants/interns/on-call employees/declarants) to direct support of education and research takes place, if possible.

14 This is a publication of the Faculty of Science of Utrecht University.

Editors: Irma Vermeend, Robert Kerst, Irma van Zand Design: Pieter van Dorp van Vliet Photograpy: Ivar Pel, Ed van Rijswijk, Arno Kamphuis, Pieter van Dorp van Vliet, Hollandse Hoogte

For more information on the faculty of Science, please visit our website: http://bit.ly/1xXTM3B