Poornima Nagesh is a postdoctoral researcher in the Aquatic Ecology Department at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO). She is working on the Climate Robust Landscapes project, focusing on the role of water in climate-robust landscapes, particularly in sandy soil areas in the Netherlands.
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'The Grant Week was a well-thought-out event, ideal for those who are in the early stages of applying for Dutch and European grants’
The aim of her research is to assess and develop scenarios in which sandy soil landscapes are more resilient to climate and demographic changes. While her work is primarily desktop-based, involving literature reviews and spatial data analysis, she also collaborates closely with HAS Green Academy, the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), and the Meertens Institute on this project.
What were your expectations for the Grant Week prior to attending?
‘I wanted to get an overview of individual grants for early career researchers, including the requirements and different evaluation criteria. Additionally, I wanted to understand how to write grants, when to start, and other relevant details.’
Which workshops and lectures did you attend?
‘I attended the workshops on different funding opportunities: Overview of the Funding Landscape, Getting Ready for Your VENI Proposal, and Horizon Europe. I was interested in knowing the requirements and evaluation criteria for both individual and consortium grants. I attended all three lectures – How to Define Your Impact, How to Get a Grant, and The "Generative Turn" in AI – because I was curious to learn about research impact and how to get a grant.’
What makes the Grant Week a unique event in your opinion?
‘The Grant Week was a well-thought-out event, ideal for those who are in the early stages of applying for Dutch and European grants. The networking opportunities were invaluable, allowing participants to connect with like-minded individuals and learn from their experiences. It was a great opportunity to meet experienced scientists. Additionally, I could explore alternative career paths during the career consultation hours and learn how to conduct impactful research during the knowledge transfer consultation hours.’
Meeting other postdocs
Poornima found meeting other postdocs insightful because she learned about the experiences of both successful and less successful applicants from various Academy institutes and was able to expand her network beyond NIOO.
Do you have any advice for current and future colleagues?
‘Yes! I would definitely recommend the KNAW Grant Week to current and future colleagues. Firstly, it provides a broad overview of various funding opportunities. Secondly, it is a great chance to network and hear about what other Academy colleagues have experienced. Thirdly, it offers workshops on research impact, media training, pitch presentations, and creative storytelling, which are highly beneficial.’
The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO)
The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) conducts basic and strategic research on organisms, populations, ecological communities and ecosystems on land and in water.
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