Deadline: March 16, 2026
Applications are open for the Distinguished NIAS Lorentz Fellowship 2026. The Distinguished NIAS Lorentz Fellowship (DNLF) is awarded annually to a leading researcher to work on innovative research that brings together perspectives from the humanities and/or social sciences with the natural and/or technological sciences. Distinguished NIAS Lorentz Fellows may be nominated by leading figures in the Dutch academic community.
Pivotal to the NIAS-Lorentz Programme is the understanding that important and exciting advances are to be expected in research at the interface of the humanities and/or social sciences on the one hand and the natural sciences and/or technological sciences on the other. Topics of societal importance that require extensive collaboration across traditional scientific boundaries in order to progress are encouraged. The programme also includes interdisciplinary NIAS-Lorentz Theme Groups and NIAS-Lorentz Workshops.
Benefits
A Distinguished NIAS Lorentz Fellowship consists of:
- A fellowship at NIAS for 5 months from September 2027 – January 2028. It includes a private office and participation in a diverse and interdisciplinary community and, if applicable, either accommodation or travel expenses.
- A personal stipend or, for scholars affiliated to a Dutch university or research institute, a Dutch University Grant, given to the institution.
- A workshop at the Lorentz Center on the fellowship topic, with full organisational support and a budget of €20,000.
Eligibility
- Candidates must be nominated by one of the following Dutch scientific communities: rectors and deans of Dutch universities; board and directors of the KNAW, NWO and TNO, and their respective institutes; board of the Young Academy (DJA); the Dutch Network of Women Professors (LNVH); directors of museums and of industrial organisations with a research agenda.
Evaluation Criteria
- The nomination stimulates research at the interface between the humanities and social sciences on the one hand, and the natural and/or technological sciences on the other.
- The nominee is an outstanding scientist with an excellent academic track record.
- The nominee has the capacity to bring together researchers from necessary disciplines.
- The topic is firmly embedded within the Dutch scientific community.
- The topic is clearly interdisciplinary and brings together perspectives from the humanities and/or social sciences with the natural and/or technological sciences.
- The interdisciplinary approach will contribute to achieving the research goals.
- The topic has the potential to produce exciting advances at the interface of scientific fields.
- The topic is relevant to current societal issues.
- The topic will broaden the scope of the NIAS-Lorentz Programme.
- The quality of topic and researcher will attract wider interest.
Application
The nomination consists of:
- The nomination letter signed by the nominator.
- Title of the intended DNLF research project.
- Brief description of the intended DNLF research project (max. 1 page) that bridges the divide between the humanities and/or social sciences and the natural and/or technological sciences. The description should be explicit on the interaction of specific alpha/beta/gamma elements and how the research project will encourage research at the interface of these different scientific areas. It should also describe the possible societal impact as well as plans for one or more publications.
- The nominee also describes what the added value of the interdisciplinary NIAS environment would be, and how they will contribute to the NIAS community during their stay.
- Brief outline of the NIAS-Lorentz Workshop related to the fellowship topic (max. 3 pages).
- Curriculum Vitae of the nominee (max. 3 pages).
- Short list of the nominee’s most important publications (max. 10 publications).
Nominations (with all documents in English) are submitted by mail to [email protected].
For more information, visit Distinguished NIAS Lorentz Fellowship.
