First IE&IS Perseverance Voucher awarded to Daniël Lakens

7 years

Daniël Lakens is the first researcher to receive the voucher. We asked him to describe the effort and time he put into the application of a VICI grant.  "I applied for a VICI grant to address a statistical issue in the social sciences. Imagine researchers investigating whether social media impacts teenagers' mental health. While they can use statistical methods to determine if there's an effect, they struggle to gauge its significance. This is crucial because we'd only intervene in teenagers' social media use if the impact is significant enough. Despite this problem being recognized for decades, no solution has been found. After pondering over it for seven years and consulting numerous colleagues, I dedicated much of the summer of 2023 to completing the proposal."

Labyrinth

Dean Geert-Jan van Houtum: "Writing a proposal can feel like navigating a labyrinth; it demands patience and perseverance. The final proposal is built on months of hard work. It’s about brainstorming and consulting with critical colleagues, to find that breakthrough idea.” With grants in high demand and tough competition, Van Houtum emphasizes the need for bold and daring research: “ Science funding agencies seek projects that push boundaries and make a real impact on the scientific community," he concludes.

Collaboration and criticism

Daniel Lakens too discussed his topic with colleagues and emphasizes the importance of criticism in the process: “About 10 months prior to the deadline, I arranged a three-day retreat with collaborators who share an interest in this topic. Our goal was to brainstorm solutions and address the challenge at hand. This retreat served as the foundation for drafting the grant proposal. Throughout the writing process, I sought feedback from my collaborators and engaged in discussions with my PhD students, who also offered valuable insights. Welcoming criticism with open arms, I received a plethora of feedback, which ultimately strengthened the final proposal.

Collective pursuit

Van Houtum: "While we celebrate awarded grants, we mustn't overlook the efforts of those who didn't secure the grant. Their dedication deserves recognition too," he affirms. This sentiment inspired the creation of the IE&IS Perseverance Voucher. "Engaging in the application process is valuable in itself, aiding researchers in refining their research strategy," he explains. "Through the Perseverance Voucher, we express gratitude for their hard work, dedication, and energy invested in their personal grant applications. It's a token of appreciation for their resilience and perseverance."

"The department encourages researchers to consider applying for personal grants," emphasizes the dean. "It's not just about individual goals; it's a collective pursuit of our department," That's why we provide support throughout the application process and why we've introduced this voucher,"

Sign of appreciation

What does receiving the voucher signify for Daniël Lakens? How does he intend to allocate the €5,000 accompanying the Perseverance Voucher, and will he be submitting a new application? Lakens shares his perspective: "I can't overlook past successes, and encountering setbacks in grant applications is simply part of the process. However, I'm enthusiastic about how our department is improving the reward systems. Given the low success rate of personal grants, acknowledging individuals who invest time in pursuing them, even when unsuccessful, is a significant gesture of appreciation. One critique of my proposal was its ambitious scope in data collection. With the funds, I aim to demonstrate the feasibility of my proposed data collection plan. Additionally, I plan to convene another meeting with peers interested in tackling this challenge. My hope is that together, we can generate ideas to address this important issue, irrespective of this proposal's outcome."