ERC Laureates inspire courage and curiosity ahead of EU Day 2025

Whether you’re drafting your first Horizon Europe proposal, refining a rejected ERC bid, or seeking guidance in the rapidly evolving EU R&I policy and funding landscape, join us on April the 15th at EUR’s EU Day 2025. The stories of our ERC Laureates offer a compelling prelude to the event’s Inspire Yourself sessions.

The spark behind the science

Every groundbreaking project begins with a question. For Tom Emery (Associate Professor, ESSB), it’s understanding how parents balance careers and childcare - a societal challenge with profound policy implications. His ERC-funded research leverages population-scale data to map how families navigate this delicate equilibrium. “The ERC rewards bold ideas, not just polished CVs,” he says, reflecting on the freedom the grant provided to challenge conventional methods.

Niels Rietveld (Associate Professor, ESE) merges genetics and economics to explore how genes and environments interact to shape inequality. His work dismantles deterministic views of human potential while seeking policies that reduce disparities. “Research should steer where the field is going,” he emphasizes, underscoring the importance of adaptability in academia.

Dimitrios Vlachopoulos (Associate Professor, RSM) bridges technology and pedagogy, ensuring digital tools enhance - not overshadow - human-centered learning. His UNIHUBS project, aligned with EUR’s 2030 Strategy, investigates inclusive digital education models. “Innovation must be visionary and grounded,” he insists - a philosophy that transformed early setbacks into award-winning breakthroughs.

Rounding out the quartet, Janna Cousijn (Associate Professor, ESSB) tackles complex psychological challenges through interdisciplinary lenses. She studies how the social environment and the brain jointly shape trajectories of adolescent risk and resilience to addiction. Her work thrives on daring questions and collaborative problem-solving. “Think big, move beyond your comfort zone, and invest in visuals to make your proposal unforgettable,” she advises.

Turning points

For Tom, a 2019 presentation on the ODISSEI Supercomputer ignited a revolution. Watching Jan van der Laan map the Netherlands’ population network, he recognized the untapped potential of big data in social science. “It completely overhauled my approach,” he recalls. “Suddenly, we could ask questions we’d never dreamed of answering.”

Niels’ career shifted when he stepped into the shoes of a grant evaluator. Serving on review panels taught him to see proposals through a reviewer’s lens - a skill he later channelled into crafting successful ERC bids. “Clarity is key,” he advises. “Reviewers need to trust you’ll lead the field forward.”

Dimitrios experienced his lightbulb moment early, when he realized that technology alone couldn’t revolutionize education. “Innovation isn’t about tools - it’s about how they’re woven into pedagogy,” he explains. This insight drove him to refocus on ethical, learner-centered design - a pivot that transformed a rejected ERC proposal into two award-winning studies on e-learning and gamification.

Janna’s pivotal lesson came through trial and error. “EU grants demand precision,” she notes. “Budget tightly, but leave room for inflation - what’s feasible today might cost double in five years.” Her pragmatic approach balances ambition with realism, ensuring her interdisciplinary teams thrive even when methods evolve.

When “no” becomes “next”

Rejection is a rite of passage in academia, yet these researchers prove it’s also a catalyst. Tom faced repeated criticism for his unconventional career path. “I was told I wasn’t doing things ‘the right way,’” he admits. Still, his persistence paid off as the ERC’s emphasis on originality over orthodoxy validated his approach.

Dimitrios channels setbacks into reinvention. After an ERC Starting Grant rejection in 2014, he refined his proposal, secured alternative funding, and published pioneering work that earned international acclaim. “Failure isn’t an endpoint,” he says. “It’s an iteration.”

For Niels, resilience extends beyond personal grit. Leading large projects taught him to nurture teams. “Funded work isn’t just about research - it’s about mentoring the next generation of scholars,” he notes, highlighting the leadership skills honed through EU grants.

Janna adds a tactical twist: “Start drafting your problem statement early, and involve reviewers from different fields,” she advises. Her strategy of daring to tackle interdisciplinary complexity - while grounding methods in state-of-the-art practices - has turned ambitious ideas into feasible, high-impact projects.

Turning ideas into impact

Behind every successful proposal is a team of experts who help researchers navigate the complexities of EU funding. Engagement and Research Services’ pre-award team and funding advisors play a pivotal role in refining ideas, strengthening impact, and ensuring proposals for a major research initiative align with both scientific and societal goals.

Patricia Chaudron, Research Funding Officer at ESHCC/ESHPM, highlights a standout example: Prof. Stijn Reijnders’ ERC Consolidator Grant for his project Worlds of Imagination. The study explored how films and TV series inspire global tourism flows. With support from the grants team, Reijnders later secured an ERC Proof of Concept and established the Erasmus Knowledge Centre for Film, Heritage, and Tourism (FIHETO). “Reijnders is one of the few SSH researchers to turn their ERC into a non-profit organization,” Patricia notes. “FIHETO now drives sustainable and inclusive film tourism worldwide—a testament to the power of combining academic excellence with societal impact.”

Anca Miclea-Faciu, Senior Collaborative Research Proposal Partner at ERS, emphasizes the importance of impact. “Many proposals focus on scientific excellence but lack a strong dissemination strategy,” she explains. “We help researchers articulate how their work will benefit society, policymakers, and industry, ensuring their projects resonate beyond academia.”

Nathan Albury-Garcés, Research Grants Advisor at ESSB, underscores the value of collaboration. “The grants advisor wears many hats,” he says. “We help researchers stay focused on the big picture: What makes this proposal urgent? What impact will it have? And do all the pieces add up to answer the guiding question?”

Lessons for aspiring applicants

What does it take to craft a winning proposal? For Tom, the answer lies in boldness: “The ERC funds what others won’t. Embrace that freedom.” Dimitrios stresses the power of storytelling: “Frame your project as a solution to a real problem, and make the impact undeniable.”

Janna champions audacity and visuals: “Dare to think big, approach messy problems, and use graphics to make your proposal stick,” she urges. “But balance ambition with feasibility - innovate in your questions, not just your methods.”

Niels adds another tip: “Write with reviewers in mind. They need confidence in your vision, even if the path isn’t fully mapped.”

EU Day 2025

EU Day 2025 will take place on 15 April 2025. It is a special event designed to help EUR’s research community navigate the evolving EU R&I policy and funding landscape, connect with peers and experts, and strengthen their research strategies, careers, and impact. As a researcher, securing EU funding isn’t just about financial support - it’s about expanding your impact, fostering collaborations, and positioning yourself at the forefront of international research.