VILLUM FONDEN awards approx. DKK 16 million for eight research projects at Aarhus University. The eight researchers are all from Faculty of Natural Sciences and Faculty of Technical Sciences, and their projects are selected anonymously based on how innovative and bold they are.

Among the eight projects, two of them will be carried out at Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO). One of the recipients at iNANO is Associate Professor Rikke Louise Meyer, who is head of the Biofilm Group, where she and her team members study bacterial biofilm formation and ways to combat these.

Another recipient is Postdoc Chengfang Pang, who presently is a postdoc at Technical University of Denmark (DTU Environment). Pang will be carrying out her research funded by the VILLUM Experiment grant here at iNANO.

The bold experiments

• Rikke Louise Meyer, Associate Professor, DKK 1.970.658
  • Project title: The secret life of DNA 
  • The purpose is to test the hypothesis that DNA can store peptides and other small molecules. The research could shed light on how microbial communities behave, while also suggesting new ways to exploit DNA’s myriad functions.
• Chengfang Pang, Postdoc, DKK 1.996.044
  • Project title: Shaping Nanoparticle-Microbial Interactions to Modify the Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance (NanoShapMicro)
  • The purpose of the project is to investigate the process of nanoparticle interaction with bacteria on nano-bio-microbial interface. In this way she will search for specific antimicrobial nanoparticles in the process, which can modify the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance. Pang hopes the generated knowledge will prove valuable in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Experimental programme

Villum Experiment funds exceptional science and technology research projects that challenge norms and have the potential to fundamentally alter our approach to important topics in science and technology.

The programme, according to science director Thomas Bjørnholm, VILLUM FONDEN, seeks to reward scientists who question conventional thinking.

“The bold idea that you might not dare to mention aloud may challenge acclaimed research even though it doesn’t fit into the conventional peer-review funding system,” Bjørnholm says.

Applications are submitted anonymously and the proposed research is assessed by an international panel of 20 external experts without taking the applicants’ professional or academic qualifications into account.

In total 52 grant recipients were chosen from amongst 400 applicants, ranging in position from postdoc to full professor. Applicants are affiliated with the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, the University of Southern Denmark and Aalborg University and hail from 16 different countries. 

Associate Professor Rikke Louise Meyer
Aarhus University
Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Bioscience
Email: rikke.meyer@inano.au.dk
Phone: +45 8715 6562

Chenfang Pang
Find link to contact information here.