The Professors’ Fund is an initiative of several Maastricht University professors. Occupying an exemplary and influential position, these professors deem it necessary to support the university and its academic community and have opted to do so through the Limburg University Fund/SWOL. Funding is made possible by donating the payments they received for third-party jobs, royalties and other financial resources.
By raising these funds, professors aim to promote excellence in the scientific work of young researchers at Maastricht University. This especially applies to researchers at the start of their scientific career, who have taken their PhD but are unable to produce indisputably excellent research due to a lack of resources.
The beginning
In 2012, numerous professors from Randwyck and the city centre received a letter from Eichholtz and De Vries requesting that they make an annual donation to the University Fund in the form of payment they received for lectures, committee membership or other external jobs. Nearly eighty professors did just that and the first ten thousand euros has been collected. De Vries: “Aalt Willem Heringa is donating his book royalties. I haven’t yet decided what to do, but I’m thinking of donating the subsistence allowance I received from a ZON-NWO committee. That’s 2000 euros, with 1000 euros being the standard donation. Piet is donating the 2500 euros he received for his lectures.” Eichholtz, with a grin: “A good example tends to be followed.” (Source: Observant, 28 March 2013)
Applications
At the moment, it is not possible to submit applications for the Professor’s Fund.
Criteria and considerations
Applications for financial support for research projects should be submitted to the Professors’ Fund’s Advisory Committee. The committee’s insight and decision will primarily depend on the applicant’s cover letter as well as on the references. Because of the importance the committee attaches to science communication, they would like you to include a paragraph in your application explaining how the findings of the project will be communicated to the general public. The committee would also like to support the extra efforts of young, excellent scientists who have obtained their PhD, as those efforts help them to further develop their scientific career. Please find a few examples below:
- Travel and accommodation expenses incurred during a month-long visit to a foreign library/archive in preparation for an NWO or ERC request.
- Travel and accommodation expenses incurred during a month-long visit to an international professor in preparation for an NWO-Rubicon request or a Marie Curie scholarship to stay with the same professor.
- Pilot research providing data for a Veni application or other extensive programmes.
- Writing/completing an article for a leading journal.
Accounting for expenses
The Advisory Committee requires you to submit a report after completing the project for which a grant was awarded. If a grant is awarded for a certain project, 75% of the amount will be paid at the actual start of the project and the remaining 25% after the report has been submitted and the expenses have been accounted for.
Advisory board
An advisory board has been appointed among the professors to oversee the allocation of funds. This board consists of six members representing all faculties. At the time of the fund’s creation, the advisory board consisted of Prof. Nanne de Vries (FHML), Prof. Rob Bauer (SBE), Prof. Madelon Peters (FPN), Prof. Dr. Ir. Ralf Peeters (FHS), Prof. Wiebe Bijker (FASOS) and Prof. Aalt Willem Heringa (LAW).
How to make a donation to this fund?
If you would like to make a donation to this fund, you can do so through the University Fund Limburg Attn Professor’s Fund, IBAN: NL21 INGB 0653 6632 42.