Applications Huub and Julienne Spiertz Fund

The Huub and Julienne Spiertz (HJS) Fund awards travel grants to PhD candidates and postdocs at Wageningen University & Research under the age of 35 in the field of agrobiology and crop science. The grant of up to €1,000 is intended for a study trip to a foreign university or research institute or a visit to a conference.
How to apply
In 2026, we will, for the very last time, award 2-4 grants of € 750.- to € 1,000.- (max.) to young scientists who want to visit a foreign university / research institute or an international conference. One of the grants will be awarded to an application where the work is focused on plant production or plant breeding in the Netherlands. Grants can be spent on travel, accommodation and registration fees. If a maximum grant of € 1,000.- is requested, argumentation is needed.
Applications must be submitted before December, 1st, 23.59 hrs. and sent to: claudius.vandevijver@wur.nl
Please read the Call & Guidelines for this application carefully before applying.
More information
Professor Huub Spiertz, emeritus professor Crop Ecology at Wageningen University, decided to create a Fund on Name when he turned 70 years old in 2011. He and his wife, Julienne Spiertz, want to offer PhD candidates and postdocs the chance to acquire foreign experience in crop science and agrobiology by providing funding for their study trips. In 2015, Huub Spiertz passed away. The Fund is continued by his wife.
Huub Spiertz: “Young researchers must be given the chance to discover what the scientific world has to offer. They often have little opportunity to acquire new scientific contacts outside of Wageningen University. Especially at the beginning of their PhD, much attention is placed inwards while that is the ideal time to gain ideas from outside; to test their ideas, to gain feedback and to exchange a train of thought. Attending congresses is usually done during the last phase of promotion but without a concrete goal, young researchers can get lost in the masses.”
The board of trustees of the HJS Fund is comprised of:
- Mrs Vivian Spiertz, family representative
- Prof. Dr. Ir. Niels Anten, professor/chair Centre for Crop Systems Analysis
- Prof. Dr. ir. Katrien Descheemaeker, professor/chair Plant Production Systems
- Dr. Claudius van de Vijver, Graduate school PE&RC, secretary
Questions?
Questions about the Huub and Julienne Spiertz Fonds? Get in touch.
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