Machine learning models can now forecast weather patterns, predict molecular properties, and propose new materials by representing these systems as networks of connected parts, or graphs. While these models can make accurate predictions, scientists often cannot tell how exactly these models make predictions. A model might give the right result while using the wrong reasoning. This project develops tools to open these ‘black boxes’ by following the exact computational steps inside graph-based machine learning models. This will allow scientists to check whether the models follow real physical laws and can be trusted in scientific research.

VENI grant

The Dutch Science Council (NWO) has awarded Veni grants to 28 promising UvA and Amsterdam UMC researchers. The funding will enable the laureates to further develop their research ideas over the next three years. The Veni is an individual research grant that is part of the NWO Talent Programme.

The grant is an incentive for adventurous, talented and groundbreaking academics to further develop their own research ideas over the coming years. NWO has awarded a total of 200 research projects in this round of funding.