With the money - some 170,000 euros for three years - Starke will be working at Human-Technology Interaction to research to what extent people's social network affect their energy consumption. By extension, he wants to look at how companies, for example, can improve the way they promote energy-saving measures.

Research Talent is a funding scheme 'for young, ambitious talents who aspire a career as researcher'. NWO Social and Behavioral Sciences OK'd 32 of 132 submitted proposals this round. Selected talents will receive a total amount of 5.3 million euros.