A Scientific Boost for Younger Scientists

The talented scientists of University of Copenhagen were awarded 8 out of 15 Starting Grants. The Technical University of Denmark and Aarhus University each receive two grants while the University of Southern Denmark and The Capital Region of Denmark each receive one grant. A new recipient i.e. Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) obtains its first European Research Council (ERC) Grant during this round. In terms of topic, the fifteen scientists cover research fields from chronic illnesses to chemical mechanisms as well as jihadist conflicts.

Mona Kanwal Sheikh, who is senior researcher at DIIS, was awarded almost DKK 1.5 million for a five-year research project concerning transnational jihadism, which focuses on Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. The positive message from ERC was cause for joy:

- It feels like a great recognition and, needless to say, the fact that ERC has believed in my project and found it important is a great honour. In addition to this, it opens a lot of doors due to the fact that I have the financing to assemble my own team, collaborate with leading research environments and pursue my ambitions regarding research without feeling limited by economy. The next step is to live up to the research agenda that I wish to set, and that is why I am incredibly delighted by the fact that ERC has believed in my ability to implement the project, says Mona Kanwal Sheikh.

Her project deals with the comprehension of the way in which jihadist conflicts obtain a transnational character. She wishes to approach this in a completely new way where she combines regression analyses based on quantitative data with qualitative studies of how the jihadists’ worldviews change when their fight is suddenly global.

An overview of the 15 ERC recipients

Read more

• Press release from the European Research Council at their website