News
Research Support Champions 2024: Jelle de Plaa, Ron Scholten and Anne de Jong
Exceptional commitment to research support
SURF wants to use the awards to honour research support staff who add significant value to research at their institutions and beyond. For the 2024 awards, anyone could nominate candidates. The jury received many entries and had the task of choosing the three best research supporters from them. In the end, the choice fell on:
Senior Software Design Engineer at SRON, the Netherlands Institute for Space Research.
Colleagues about Jelle:
"Jelle is the Open Science heart and soul of SRON. His contribution is mainly characterised by the multitude of aspects he is passionately committed to."
Read more about Jelle and also see SRON's news release about Jelle.
Ron Scholten
Research Data Manager at Utrecht University.
Colleagues about Ron:
"Ron is a real team player. He deploys his extensive expertise, knows a lot about privacy, security, and research data management, and collaborates with various colleagues from different functions and departments."
Anne de Jong
Data steward at the Centre of Expertise Urban Vitality at the University of applied sciences.
Colleagues about Anne:
"Anne has invested a lot of time in increasing his visibility within his organisation, promoting open science principles and contributing with ideas in the practical setting of research. Anne is the connecting link between data and researchers."
Winner Audience Award: Ron Scholten
During SURF Research Day, visitors could vote for their favourite SURF Research Support Champion. The public thus also had a say in selecting a winner. Ron Scholten received a bunch of lego flowers as the audience award.
About the SURF Research Support Champions
Indispensable
SURF Research Support Champions have made an exceptional commitment to supporting research within their institutions and the profession of research support in general. Researchers are often in the spotlight, but support staff are equally indispensable for high-quality scientific results. With this award, SURF wants to give research supporters at institutions a platform and inspire others.
Support in research data management and IT
In the context of this prize, SURF defines research supporters as anyone who supports researchers in the field of research data management and IT. In storing, managing, archiving and sharing research data, but also in software development and advice on research applications. For example, data stewards, IT professionals, librarians or research assistants.
Nominated by colleagues
The candidates were nominated by their colleagues, by researchers and by managers. In assessing the entries, the quality of support, the way the nominees connect researchers' needs with research support, and the impact of their work were considered. The submissions received by the jury were comprehensive and enthusiastically substantiated.