Queen’s University Belfast researchers are part of a new international research group who have been awarded £9m to look at how neutron star mergers create heavy elements.

The European Research Council (ERC) has announced the winners of 29 grants as part of the Synergy Grant scheme, with total funding of €295m.

Among the winners is the HeavyMetal project, which includes researchers Dr Stuart Sim, Dr Catherine Ramsbottom and Dr Connor Ballance, from the School of Mathematics and Physics at Queen's.

They will work with Professor Padraig Dunne from University College Dublin and academics from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and GSI Darmstadt in Germany.

Dr Stuart Sim, who is one of the Principal Investigators on the project, explains: “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding, which will help us to advance science and understand in more detail how mergers of neutron stars create heavy elements.

“We look forward to working with our partners in Ireland, Denmark and Germany in this international effort to get a much better insight into these mergers and the origin of heavy metals.”

Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “The ERC’s trademark is long-term funding to individual top researchers. But some problems are too big for the most outstanding minds to address alone. These new grants will enable scientists to join forces and follow their curiosity together across disciplinary boundaries. They are set to gain insights that will help us understand the world around us and to face future challenges. Congratulations and good luck to all the grantees!”

The President of the ERC, Professor Maria Leptin, said: “I’m happy to see more pioneering researchers funded to focus on ambitious and complex scientific problems that require innovative ways to advance our knowledge. It takes the best researchers, each with unique expertise and approaches, to jointly tackle such challenges. The Synergy Grants help to tap into international talent both in Europe and around the world. I congratulate the successful applicants and look forward to seeing the results these collaborative efforts can bring!”