Alumna Fellow Joanne van der Woude ('07-'08) received a Vidi Grant to further her unique research. She is a University Lecturer at the University of Gronigen. With the funds she plans to hire research assistants to all explore neglected literature and visual artifacts on the early Americas. In particular, she plans to research the heroes of Spanish and Dutch epics to analyze and compare them. She said to a university reporter that "I sat for days obsessively check my email when I was suddenly called by NWO. It was great news, like my friend and mother called." Click watch Joanne van der Woude describe her project.

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research is the most important science-funding body in the Netherlands. Each year the NWO invests more than 650 million euros in curiosity-driven research at over 5600 institutions. The Vidi Grant is part of the NWO Talent Scheme, which consists of the Veni, Vidi and Vici grants. Joanne van der Woude has received the maximum amount which is granted over five years. Click here to learn more about the Vidi Grant.