The credit goes to the team

A prestigious grant is too often seen as being a reward for one scientist’s work when it is really a team effort, says Rianne Letschert. Martine Segers interviews Maastricht University’s rector about what should matter on a scientist’s CV.

“My own Vidi grant application was teamwork, absolutely,” says Rianne Letschert, who has been rector of Maastricht University since 2016.

At 39, Letschert is one of the university’s youngest ever rectors. She has made it her mission to place more value on teamwork and to create policies that better appreciate the whole span of academic activities. This, she says, includes teaching, interacting with and informing society, and taking up leadership roles.