University of Oslo Shines with Five ERC Starting Grants

The University of Oslo (UiO) stands tall in the European academic scene as five of its young, promising researchers are bestowed with the coveted ERC Starting Grants from the European Research Council. Spanning a spectrum of studies from plasma accelerators and sleep oscillations to sustainability and marginalization, these projects aptly demonstrate UiO's multidisciplinary prowess.

Among the awardees are Carl Andreas Lindstrøm, focusing on plasma accelerators' real-time applications, and Charlotte Boccara, diving deep into the realm of sleep's role in cognitive development. Felix Stein, Nicolai Topstad Borgen, and Norbert Pirk also made the list with their innovative projects on global development, marginalization, and terrestrial climate science respectively.

Each year, the ERC handpicks a select group of researchers with outstanding project proposals. With 26 submissions this year, UiO's 5 grants signify an impressive success rate. Rector Svein Stølen emphasized the importance of these grants, citing the accolades as a testament to UiO's commitment to fostering pioneering, long-term research. As a pillar of the 'Excellent Science' category, ERC Starting Grants endorse researchers with a notable track record in innovation and independent research, offering up to 1.5 million euros for projects spanning five years.