10 researchers receive EMBO Installation Grants

Ten life science researchers will receive the 2012 EMBO Installation Grants. The grants will assist the scientists to relocate and set up their research groups in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Portugal, and Turkey.

EMBO Installation Grants are awarded annually to strengthen science in selected member states. The scheme is financed entirely by these countries.

"The EMBO Installation Grants directly support talented young scientists coming back to their home countries where they establish laboratories. In effect, the grants help reverse the loss of talented researchers from countries actively developing basic science," said Gerlind Wallon, Installation Grants Programme Manager and EMBO Deputy Director.

Of the grantees one will move to Poland, one to the Czech Republic, one to Estonia and two to Portugal. They will relocate to these countries from institutes in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States. Five of the successful candidates will establish research groups in Turkey. All five scientists will move to Turkey from positions in the United States.

Noel Lowndes of the National University of Ireland, Galway, commented that in the five years he has been on the selection committee the standard of applications has risen steadily, which augurs well for molecular biology in the participating countries. Lowndes heads a committee of EMBO Members who select the successful candidates for the high standard of their research.

The scientists receive 50,000 euros annually for three to five years from their host countries. This makes it easier for them to establish their research groups and themselves in the scientific community. The ten grantees will also enter the prestigious network of EMBO Young Investigators, which helps them to integrate themselves and their laboratories into the European scientific community.

58 researchers have been funded by EMBO Installation Grants since the inception of the programme in 2006.

The next application deadline for EMBO Installation Grants is 15 April 2013.

Installation Grant Recipients 2012

Can Alkan, Turkey

Deniz Atasoy, Turkey

Sandra Fonseca, Portugal

Reto Gassmann, Portugal

Ivar Ilves, Estonia

Michał Komorowski, Poland

Tamer Önder, Turkey

Kerem Pekkan, Turkey

Erdal Toprak, Turkey

Lukáš Trantírek, Czech Republic

Provided by European Molecular Biology Organization