18 July 2025
Dr Lucas Slot received the grant for his project entitled 'Foundations of Sum-of-Squares Algorithms: Worst-Case and Beyond'
Sums of squares are mathematical objects with a long history. Historically, they have been studied mostly because of their theoretical properties. More recently, they are have been used as a tool in the development of powerful algorithms. These algorithms can be used to solve all sorts of problems in pure and applied science. In this project, Slot will expand the mathematical foundations of these algorithms in an attempt to explain their success. In particular, he will develop methods that allow us to go ‘beyond the worst case’.
Together with Vidi and Vici, Veni is part of the NWO Talent Programme. Veni is aimed at excellent researchers who have recently obtained their doctorate. Researchers in the Talent Programme are free to submit their own subject for funding. NWO thus encourages curiosity-driven and innovative research. NWO selects researchers based on the quality of the researcher, the innovative character of the research, the expected scientific impact of the research proposal and the possibilities for knowledge use.