DNLF Fellowships

What is a Distinguished NIAS-Lorentz Fellowship?
The Distinguished NIAS-Lorentz Fellowship (DNLF) is awarded annually to a leading researcher to work on cutting-edge research at the interface between the humanities and social sciences on the one hand and the natural, life and technological sciences on the other. Distinguished NIAS-Lorentz Fellows are nominated by prominent figures from within the Dutch academic community. The NIAS-Lorentz Fellowship Board evaluates the DNLF nominations.

A Distinguished NIAS-Lorentz Fellowship consists of:

• A fellowship at NIAS for 5 months between September 2025 – January 2026. It includes a private office, participation in an interdisciplinary community, communal lunch and, if applicable, accommodation or travel expenses.
• A personal stipend or, for scholars affiliated to a Dutch university or research institute, a Dutch University Grant, given to the institution. Both are set on € 2,500 per month.
• A workshop at the Lorentz Center on the fellowship topic, with full organizational support and a budget of € 20,000.

How to nominate
Candidates must be nominated by one of the following Dutch scientific communities: rectors and deans of Dutch universities; board and directors of the KNAW, NWO and TNO, and their respective institutes; board of the Young Academy (DJA); the Dutch Network of Women Professors (LNVH); directors of museums and of industrial organizations with a research agenda.

Nominations (with all documents in English) are submitted to partners@nias.knaw.nl.

The nomination consists of:

• The nomination letter signed by the nominator.
• Title of the intended DNLF research project.
• Brief description of the intended DNLF research project (max. 1 page) that bridges the divide between the humanities and/or social sciences and the natural, life and/or technological sciences. The description should be explicit on the interaction of specific alpha/beta/gamma elements and how the research project will encourage research at the interface of these different scientific areas. It should also describe the possible societal impact as well as plans for one or more publications.
• Brief outline of the NIAS-Lorentz workshop related to the fellowship topic (max. 3 pages: see Guidelines for a DLF Workshop Outline (PDF)).
• Curriculum Vitae of the nominee (max. 3 pages).
• Short list of the nominees most important publications (max. 10 publications).

Evaluation
Nominations will be evaluated by the NIAS-Lorentz Fellows Advisory Board (FAB). Nominees and nominators will be informed of the outcome within six weeks of the submission deadline. The successful nominee will be asked to submit a Full Proposal of the NIAS-Lorentz Workshop at a later date.

Evaluation criteria include:

• The nominee is an outstanding scientist with an excellent academic track record.
• The nominee has the capacity to bring together researchers from necessary disciplines.
• The topic is firmly embedded within the Dutch scientific community.
• The topic is clearly interdisciplinary and brings together perspectives from the humanities and/or social sciences with the natural and/or technological sciences.
• The interdisciplinary approach will contribute to achieving the research goals.
• The topic has the potential to produce exciting advances at the interface of scientific fields.
• The topic is relevant to current societal issues.
• The topic will broaden the scope of the NIAS-Lorentz Program.
• The quality of topic and researcher will attract wider interest.

DNLF Fellowship
The Distinguished NIAS Lorentz Fellow will become a member of the fellows community at NIAS. This means that the general NIAS criteria and fellowship regulations also hold for the DNLF. This includes:

• At least 3 years of post-Ph.D. experience on the closing date of the call
• Applicants/nominees can only submit an application for one type of fellowship per academic year
• Interest in participating in the interdisciplinary community at NIAS
• For the complete eligibility criteria and regulations, see here.
• For a full overview of more practical and financial information about what a (DNLF) Fellowship at NIAS entails, see here.

Contact
For information about the suitability of candidates, please contact Professor Jan Willem Duyvendak (director NIAS) or Professor Roeland Merks (director Lorentz Center). For general information about the fellowship and the nomination procedure, contact Annette Mullink.

The Call for Distinguished NIAS Lorentz Fellows 2025-2026 is closed.

Current and previous Distinguished NIAS Lorentz Fellows

2015
From a Fossil to a Bio-based Economy – Adding Value Combining Science,Technology and Social Science
Workshop: Bridging Technological and Social Innovation for a Biobased Economy
Patricia Osseweijer, Delft University of Technology