On Tuesday, 6 May, Nini Pryds, Henning Friis Poulsen, Irini Angelidaki, and Leif Oxenløwe each received a prestigious Villum Investigator grant, which is awarded to experienced and internationally renowned researchers who will continue to have a leading role in world-class research.
Professor Irini Angelidaki, DTU Chemical Engineering, receives approximately DKK 30 million for her research project 'BIODESIGN'. The project focuses on exploiting the potential of microbial consortia to enable the utilisation of waste and residues, such as substrates, for high-value products such as biofuels and chemicals.
Professor Nini Pryds, DTU Energy, receives approximately DKK 30 million for his research project 'EUREKA'. The project presents a revolutionary new paradigm for manipulating ultra-thin oxide crystals using controllable twisting of crystal membranes. The strategy is to explore, design and understand new electronic, magnetic and structural phases in so-called Moiré-engineered oxide heterostructures, potentially leading to faster and more energy-efficient electronics.
Professor Henning Friis Poulsen, DTU Physics, receives approximately DKK 30 million for his research project 'Deformation and Failure in 4D'. The remarkable mechanical properties of metals are due to defects that accumulate within them, but the exact mechanisms are still unknown. In his project, Henning Friis Poulsen will use unique X-ray microscopes to film these defects in 3D, at the nanometer and nanosecond scale. The insights will lead to new theories and better predictions of the strength and durability of metals.
Professor Leif Oxenløwe, DTU Electro, receives approximately DKK 30 million for his research project 'FOCUSED'. With the project, Leif Oxenløwe aims to create energy-efficient optical communication systems by applying basic principles from thermodynamics. The project will investigate how to design systems that use the least amount of energy to send data. Part of the project is to adapt a new "communication machine" model to optical communication systems to establish a new paradigm for optimisation of such systems.
