Dear applicant,
This form is meant to support you in preparing your application. We have created it in order to process your proposal, and to present all applications in a uniform manner to the assessment committee.
 When filling out the form, please remove this box and the explanations below the section
headers.
 If a question is not applicable to your proposal, please write down “Not applicable” but leave the section header in place
 Please indicate clearly at section 1j if your proposal is either computer science, astronomy, mathematics, or multidisciplinary.
 If your proposal is multidisciplinary, please indicate clearly between which disciplines. Based on your information, your proposal will be assessed in the relevant disciplinary assessment committee(s).
Please take into account that a multidisciplinary proposal should contain novel research for the disciplines involved.
 Please use the table provided when answering question 3
 If you write your proposal in LaTeX, please maintain the sections as indicated
Guidelines full proposal EW TOP Grant 2015 module 1 (senior researchers)
Before completing the grant application, please study the information in the Call for Proposals. Please note that the original Dutch-language text of the call is the authoritative version. Where the English-
language text is open to a different interpretation, no additional rights may be derived from it.
Please submit your application to NWO in electronic form using the ISAAC system. To submit, a pdf format is required. In order to process the application data properly, the pdf file should not contain any security lock. This is the only electronic format that guarantees that the application will be received in exactly the same form as it has been sent. It is not compulsory to use Word when filling out the
application form. It is possible to use for example LaTeX, as long as the headers stay the same.
It is not possible to submit several versions of the same applications in ISAAC (i.e. update your
application). If problems arise, please contact the TOP Grant programme officer or the helpdesk.
Please complete the application in English. Do not exceed the stated maximum number of words for each item on the form and use a 10-point font size, except for references to the literature, which may be given in 9-point. If you exceed the stated maximum number of words or if you fail to supply the
necessary documents, your application may be disqualified and you will lose your chance of a grant.
Important note: when writing your proposal, please take into account that it will be read by a disciplinary committee that may contain scientists from different research areas within your
discipline than your own specific area.
1.
BASIC DETAILS
1a Title of the proposal
Give the title of the research proposal.
1b Project Acronym
If applicable.
1c Application module
Indicate the module of the TOP Grant 2015 this application is submitted in (either Module 1, or Module
2, see Call for Proposals)
1d Details of the main applicant
Please provide complete information as requested.
Title:
First name:
Initials:

Last name:
Prefix:
Male/female:
Address for correspondence (during the period of the TOP-round):
Preference for correspondence in English: yes/no
Telephone:
Cell phone:
Email:
Website (optional):
1e Co-applicant(s)
Please provide complete information for the co-applicants as requested. If there is more than one co-
applicant, please fill in the details below for each co-applicant.
Title:
First name:
Initials:
Last name:
Prefix:
Male/female:
Address for correspondence (during the period of the TOP-round):
Preference for correspondence in English: yes/no
Telephone:
Cell phone:
Email:
Website (optional):
1f Scientific Summary
Provide a summary of your proposal (topic, goal, approach and potential impact of results) in no more than 250 words. This summary, written in more general terms, can also be used to fill in the summary field in the ISAAC application process. Please keep in mind that this summary will be used to invite
possible reviewers, and should as such be a good description of the proposed research.
1g Keywords
Specify up to six keywords. These keywords will be used to find appropriate referees. Therefore,
choose the keywords with care.
1h Group members involved in the proposed research
List all staff members involved in the proposed research; provide name, initials, first name, title(s) and type of involvement, e.g. daily guidance, advisor or thesis supervisor PhD-student.
Title:
First name:
Initials:
Last name:
Prefix:
Male/female:
Type of involvement:
1i Abstract for layman (in Dutch)
You are also requested to include a summary (maximum 500 words) in Dutch, written for the benefit of researchers in other disciplines and a lay readership. This summary should not be a direct
translation of the English scientific summary. It should include:
a clear explanation, in simple language, of the nature and content of your proposal;
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an account of past work in this area;
an account of what you intend to do, and why this is important;
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an account of the expected results;
an account of why your research may be deemed innovative.

If a grant is awarded, NWO may use this summary for publicity purposes.
1j Physical Sciences research discipline(s)
To which discipline(s) does your proposal apply? Please indicate one or more disciplines in the table below. If you check more than one box, your application will be evaluated as a multidisciplinary proposal. It will be discussed in all relevant disciplinary evaluation committees and will need to show innovative science in all disciplines that you have indicated below.
Research area
Astronomy
Computer Science
Mathematics
Proposal applies to:
1k Main field of research (compulsory)
For all applications it is compulsory to fill out one or more research fields that correspond to the subject of your research proposal. Please use the descriptions and codes from the NWO research field list. Please find the list via: www.nwo.nl/researchfields code + field of research: ………
If applicable: other fields of research, in order of relevance. code + field of research: ………
Please note that it is compulsory to fill out the same information also in the ISAAC system on the tab
“General Information” (Algemeen) section ”Research fields” (Disciplines) before submitting the proposal.
1l Relevance to the ‘Top sectors’
The Dutch government has designated nine ‘top sectors’: areas of economic activity to which extra attention is to be devoted. They are: Agrifood, Chemistry, Creative Industry, Energy, High-tech
Systems and Materials, Life Sciences, Logistics, Horticulture and Water. For further information, see www.topsectoren.nl
.
State (where applicable) if and how your project proposal is relevant to one or more of the designated top sectors or to the ICT roadmap, which transcends top sector boundaries. You should
also include details of any proposed collaboration with the private sector.
This section will not affect the assessment, but gives the NWO Board of Physical Sciences an understanding of the manner in which proposals are relevant to the top sectors and the national
economy.
2.
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Attention: For section 2a and 2b combined, there is a maximum of 4500 words, not including
literature references or equations.
2a Description of the proposed research
Describe the proposed research as accurately and detailed as you can within the stated maximum number of words. Include details of:
Research topic
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Overall aim, key objectives, scientific background
Originality and/or innovative elements of the topic
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Significance (potential contribution to science, technology and/or society)
The relationship between the proposed research project and any similar or complementary research which is being conducted elsewhere.
Approach
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What method(s) and/or experimental techniques will be applied?
Risk analysis of the research

Potential problems and alternative approaches
Innovation
Originality and/or innovative elements of the approach
Plan of work
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Research plan (practical timetable over the grant period)
Local, national and international collaboration
2b National and International cooperation
Describe briefly the ongoing national and international collaboration of the main applicant and coapplicant(s) that are relevant to the proposed research.
2c Knowledge utilisation
Starting 2013 it is mandatory to fill out this section. The knowledge utilisation (or research impact) section should be used to describe in what manner the output of the proposed research can lead to new technology, insights or applications in society, policy, technology or industry. If research results have the potential to be used by third parties indicate who the potential stakeholders of the proposed research project are.
Be as specific and concrete as possible on how knowledge transfer to potential users (such as companies, institutes, public policy makers, intermediates etc.) would be realised. Keep in mind that the information on use of research results must be both comprehensible to people with no specific
prior knowledge and sufficiently detailed for referees and committee members to evaluate.
Use a maximum of 500 words for this part of your proposal.
Describe the relevance of the results and/or insights from the research for and the contribution to
solving economic, societal, cultural, policy-related or technical challenges;
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Describe the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach for knowledge utilisation with
respect to meeting the need(s) of third parties within and outside of the academic sector;
Indicate the period in which possible knowledge utilisation is expected to occur;
Describe how the researcher might intend to contribute to the realisation of the possible knowledge
utilisation.
In case the proposed research does not lend itself to knowledge utilisation as described in the aforementioned terms, please explain why you believe that knowledge utilisation is not applicable to
the proposed research.
If the selection committee is of the opinion that the applicant’s explanation is correct and concludes that the research does not lend itself to knowledge utilisation, then the committee will issue a positive score for knowledge utilisation. However, if the committee thinks that there are possibilities for knowledge utilisation but that these have not been sufficiently addressed by the applicant then the
committee will give a lower score for the knowledge utilisation.
For more information, see the Explanatory note on knowledge utilisation on the NWO website .
2d Number of words used section 2a + 2b: ________ (max. 4500 words) section 2b: ____________ (max. 500 words)
2d Literature
List all relevant literature here and include full bibliographical details.
3.
ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
3a Budget
You may apply for a grant for a minimum of two and a maximum of three research positions (PhD students or post-docs), plus a maximum of € 25,000 for additional resources for the proposed

research. The grant may be used for:
 PhD students and/or two- or three-year post-docs, employed on a full-time basis. An individual bench fee (€ 5,000) will be awarded to each PhD student or post-doc to cover (either fully or

partially) expenses associated with travel, printing the thesis, etc.; equipment/software required for the project, provided the cost exceeds € 5,000. The equipment must be explicitly intended for the project described in the proposal. The relationship to the project and the need for the equipment should be clearly justified. Cheaper equipment/software
 is considered to belong to the infrastructure of the research institution, and cannot be applied
for; travel expenses for the research positions in the application, in so far as they are not covered by
the bench fee. The need to travel for the project should be clearly justified;
 other activities associated with the project, such as non-scientific personnel, travel and accommodation expenses for guest researchers and the costs of symposia etc. These should
also be clearly justified.
Summary of subsidy application
Copy the relevant parts of the table below and complete the required information. (See notes below.)
Personnel a. appointment of research personnel
State only the research positions; NWO will enter the appropriate amount.
PhD 4 years
Postdoc 3 years
Postdoc 2 years b. additional travel budget c. project-related equipment d. other project-related activities
Total b, c, d
Number
Number
Number
€………
€………
€………
€………
Notes: a) State only the positions for which funding is required: PhD students and/or postdoc researchers (for a period of 2 or 3 years). The relevant amount, including the individual bench fee, will be entered by
NWO in accordance with the standard amounts given in the NWO-VSNU contractual agreements (which can be found here) . b), c) and d): Include a budget and justify the amount concerned. The total of the additional budget
(items b, c and d) may not exceed €25K.
3b Grant applications
If you have submitted a research proposal elsewhere (including other NWO councils) on the same topic as this application, provide relevant information on that proposal. Also include proposals on the same topic submitted by other members of your group or your co-applicants group(s). Include the mentioned information for all grants. title proposal: applicant(s): funding agency: budget applied for: date of submission: date of decision:
4.
CURRICULUM VITAE (maximum 2000 words per (co-)applicant)
Use the following structure to write your CV.

Personal details
Title(s), initial(s), first name, surname:
Male/female:
Date and place of birth:
Nationality:
Current employment
Indicate what kind of contract you have.
Work experience since completing your PhD (main applicant only)
Current and previous positions.
Provide the following details for each contract: type of position (postdoc, assistant professor, associate professor, full professor, other), period (dd-mm-yyyy – dd-mm-yyyy), number of FTE, type of contract (either fixed-term or permanent, either tenure track or not, or other type of contract), institution. Where an appointment involved (or involves) the management of other researchers, state the numbers of academic and/or support staff supervised.
Position Period
(date-date)
Number of fte
Type of position
Institute
Work experience in months since completing PhD (only for the main applicant)
Please provide the total number of months that you have spent on research since you obtained your doctorate. If there are any gaps or part-time work in your CV, due to time spent on care or sick leave or time spent on activities other than research, you may explain them here. It is important that the committee and referees have this information while assessing your track record.
Please include the calculation (see example below for research activities)
Experience Number of months
Research activities
Education
Care or sick leave
Management tasks
Other, please specify
CV
June 1999: Doctorate
I. July 1999 – December 1999: unemployed.
II. January 2000 – June 2003: 0,8 fte position. 80% to be spent on research, 20% on education.
III. July – December 2003: sick leave.
IV. January 2004 – April 2004: maternity leave.
V. May 2004 – December 2008: 1 fte position. 60% to be spent on research, 20% on education, 20% on management.
VI. January 2009 – May 2010: 0,8 fte position. 60% to be spent on research, 20% on education, 20% on management.
Calculation person-years of research (in months)
I. 0 months
II. 42 months * 0,8 fte position * 0,8 spent on research = 26,88 months

III. 0 months
IV. 0 months
V. 56 months * 1 fte position * 0,6 spent on research = 33,6 months
VI. 17 months * 0,8 fte position * 0,6 spent on research = 8,16 months
Academic staff supervised (main applicant only)
PhDs
Ongoing
Promotor
(formal supervisor)
Give names:
Co-promotor
(formal cosupervisor)
Successfully completed total PhDs
Postdocs total postdocs
Other total other
Give names:
Brief summary of research (maximum 250 words)
Outline the content of your research.
Role as (co-) supervisor
International activities
List activities such as long or short study visits abroad, international collaborations, etc.
Other academic activities
Include, for example, membership of editorial boards, posts on committees and involvement in the
organisation of conferences.
Scholarships, grants and prizes
List any research scholarships/grants for which you have successfully applied or prizes you have won during your scientific career, with special attention to the last 10 years, and indicate the amount of money involved. Also, indicate clearly what your role in the grant or scholarship was (PI, co-PI,
Applicant, etc.).
Other relevant information
Please list other relevant information here.
Five top publications and five most recent relevant publications
Please list your top five publications, and your five most recent publications relevant for the proposed research.
In each case, list: the author(s), date, title of the publication, journal or series in which the publication appeared, volume, page numbers, and (if applicable) publisher and place. It is not allowed to include publications that have not been accepted yet.
By submitting this document I declare that I satisfy the nationally and internationally accepted standards for scientific conduct as stated in the Netherlands Code of Conduct for Scientific Practice
2012 (Association of Universities in the Netherlands).

Please submit the application to NWO in electronic form (pdf format is required) using the ISAAC system, which can be accessed via the NWO website ( www.isaac.nwo.nl
). The application must be submitted from the account of the main applicant. For any technical questions regarding submission, please contact the ISAAC helpdesk (
).