In Belgium, and more specifically in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the main competitive funding sources for postdoctoral researchers rely primarily on FNRS programs, European initiatives—notably the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships funded by the European Union—and certain mobility programs such as those offered by Wallonia-Brussels International (WBI). Although thematic or philanthropic funding exists in certain disciplines, it remains fragmented and often highly specialized.  Most research resources continue to be allocated to projects led by tenured researchers or established teams, which limits opportunities for postdoctoral researchers on fixed-term contracts to independently develop their own research programs.

This is why the Namur Institute for Structured Matter (NISM) has established a biennial funding program. It takes the form of grants of €2,500. These grants serve, on the one hand, to support early-career researchers and, on the other hand, to allow them to freely use these funds to organize an event, participate in a training program, undertake a research stay, or engage in any other activity, regardless of the topic or discipline, as long as the activity benefits their professional career, whether in academia or elsewhere. The only restriction concerns the research component, which must, of course, align with the research area of the funding agency supporting the candidate’s grant.

The first call for applications was launched in 2023, and four scholarships of €2,500 were awarded.  The 2025 call for applications recognized three candidates, who will receive this scholarship in 2026: Baptiste Neil, Joséphine De Meester, and Tárcius Nascimento Ramos.

When asked about this, here are their comments:

Baptiste Neil

“The NISM grant is currently enabling me to spend two months working with Prof. Sebastian Riedel’s team in Berlin. It’s allowing me to learn gas-handling techniques, which I’ll be able to bring back to my lab in Namur upon my return. Beyond the scientific aspects, this experience also allows me to strengthen my record of international mobility, a criterion explicitly identified as an area for improvement during my recent application for the CR CNRS postdoctoral fellowship.”

Joséphine de Meester 

“The NISM fellowship enabled me to undertake a four-month research exchange at UCB’s Braine-l’Alleud site, within a laboratory specializing in solid-state research. I had applied for the fellowship to cover my travel expenses. 

This exchange gave me my first experience in the world of industrial research. It allowed me to discover a different approach to research projects and to access equipment and expertise that complemented what was available in our lab. It also enabled me to build connections with researchers in the private sector.

I find this type of initiative interesting; in my case, it fostered exchanges between the academic world and the industrial sector.

This visit also helped advance my research project, which focuses on the crystallization of compounds within capsules produced using microfluidics. The work carried out at UCB directly contributes to the continuation of this project, and the results obtained will be put to good use in the future.”

Tárcius Nascimento Ramos.

“The NISM Institute’s initiative to support the career development of its postdoctoral researchers is a particularly valuable form of support. This fellowship offers us an opportunity to delve deeper into specialized fields and strengthen high-level international collaborations. Receiving this vote of confidence from NISM is an honor that validates my research and motivates me for the next stage of my career.

This fellowship will allow me to conduct research stays at the Institut Lumière Matière in Lyon. These stays will be essential for establishing collaborations and advancing my scientific expertise and autonomy. My primary goal is to integrate machine learning techniques to optimize the numerical simulation of the nonlinear optical properties of liquids. This work, which requires expertise spanning both theoretical quantum chemistry and data science, will represent an important step in the development of my career as an independent researcher.”

The selection committee for this fellowship is composed of members of the NISM Institute’s management committee and is chaired by an external member. 

Image
Francesca CECCHET

I find it very interesting to have an external member on this type of jury because it provides an outside perspective free of conflicts of interest. This year, choosing Murielle Guillaume to chair the jury turned out to be an excellent decision, as it brought a different perspective—one unclouded by academic bias—and, thanks to her expertise in human resources, a “career-oriented” viewpoint as well.

Francesca Cecchet President of the NISM Institute and FNRS Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Physics at UNamur

Namur Institute of Structured Matter

The NISM Institute brings together the research activities of the chemistry and physics departments at the University of Namur. Research at the NISM Institute focuses on various topics in organic chemistry, physical chemistry, the chemistry and physics of (nano)materials, surface science, optics and photonics, solid-state physics, and nuclear physics, from both theoretical and experimental perspectives.

Learn more about the NISM Institute
Logo institut de recherche NISM