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Nuclear physicist Martin Venhart (Institute of Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences – SAS) has achieved significant progress in his long-standing efforts to obtain an ERC Advanced Grant. His proposal titled “Multiple shapes in atomic nuclei” was evaluated in the second round of review with the highest grade A and recommended for funding. Due to insufficient funds allocated in this call, the grant was not financed, but the evaluation provides an excellent foundation for resubmission, which could lead to securing €2.5 million.

“Receiving an A rating is a huge recognition of the long-term work of our entire research group. I especially value the reviews, which contain much positive feedback on our work and on the proposal itself, as well as very valuable criticism. This will allow us to significantly develop the concept of the proposed experiment and improve the proposal. I believe that next year we will not only achieve another A rating but will also secure the necessary funding,” said Martin Venhart of the Institute of Physics SAS, v.v.i., currently Vice-President of SAS (note: as of June 6, 2025, President of SAS).

The ERC Advanced Grant is intended for experienced and established researchers to implement ambitious and groundbreaking research projects in Europe. It is open to Principal Investigators with outstanding achievements over the past 10 years. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional scientific results and the ability to lead independent research.

“The proposal targets a little-explored area of atomic nucleus structure with an odd number of nucleons and builds on our long-term work at CERN and at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. At CERN, we developed an innovative method for studying these nuclei, which provides an entirely new perspective on their structure. I would especially highlight the role of the excellent team I’ve been able to build over many years at the Institute of Physics SAS. Without the hard and responsible work of these people, it would not be possible to achieve such great results,” added Martin Venhart.

Obtaining an ERC Grant is not only a sign of scientific excellence and leadership ability, but also a strong confirmation of originality and independence in research thinking. These grants represent the most prestigious and competitive mechanism for supporting basic research within the EU. The next deadline for ERC Advanced Grant applications is August 28, 2025.

Additional Information:

Slovakia is classified among countries with a lower success rate in securing ERC grants. During 2007–2019, fewer than 2% of submitted projects were funded. If Slovakia is to strengthen its presence in the European Research Area, it is essential to increase public and private investment in research, build world-class infrastructure, and systematically support excellent research and young scientists.

Overview of ERC Grants:

Edited by Monika Tináková

Photo: Katarína Gáliková