Since 2006 there is a strong collaboration between the medical photonics group at the Academic Medical Center, my main affiliation, and the molecular photonics group of HIMS. In that year, a KNAW grant was scored on the use of upconversion nanoparticles for the detection and treatment of tumours. The research collaboration continued with several grants in that same research line. My speciality is chemical imaging/spectroscopy for medical and forensic applications and topics include the age determination of biological fluids (in collaboration with Prof. Corthals), detection and analysis of biological traces (collaboration with Prof. van Asten and Prof. Brouwer). Together with Prof. van Asten, I am responsible for the Amsterdam Center for Forensic Science and Medicine (CLHC).

I joined HIMS in 2023 as professor by special appointment in Nanoelectrochemistry and Renewable Energy Materials. the focus of my research is to understand, visualize, and control nanoscale physical and chemical processes that have a significant impact on renewable energy generation and conversion, both of which are essential for a sustainable future. After earning my PhD from the University of Barcelona, I was a postdoctoral fellow in Singapore (a*STAR Institute IMRE), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL). In 2016, I founded the 3D Photovoltaics group at the NWO-Institute AMOLF, bringing my three passions together in a laboratory that embraces optics, nanotechnology and electrochemical scanning probe microscopy.

In 2019 I joined HIMS as an extraordinary professor in computational chemistry to strengthen the interaction between the UvA and the Radboud University. I study both interstellar ices and molecular crystals using a range of different computational chemistry techniques, including kinetic Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics. I work closely with experimentalists to come together to a better understanding of the dynamics on a molecular level. I further work on method development in kinetic Monte Carlo, which makes my work nicely complementary to the rest of the computational chemistry group at HIMS. I am a recipient of NWO-VENI, VIDI, and Westerdijk fellowships, an ERC Starting Grant and the 2005 Crystal Growth Award.

I joined HIMS in 2025 as professor by special appointment in the position titled ‘Separation of Biomacromolecules, with an Emphasis on Sustainable Analytical Science’. The focus of this role is to develop next generation separation science for new modality compounds (particularly peptides and oligonucleotides) which are greener and more sustainable than current contemporary standards. Areas within scope for research are many forms of separation science (which is the highest polluter of all the analytical sciences), spectroscopy and spectrometry. Another focus area is the use of in-silico approaches to streamline method development and data reporting. This position aligns very closely with my role at AstraZeneca where I am a Principal Scientist in Global Product Development (Macclesfield, UK). I have worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 25 years with many of my roles focussing on separation science and many different molecule types. I currently work with several HIMS colleagues (Dr. Bob Pirok, Dr Andrea Gargano and Dr Saer Samanipour) on the NWO Key Technologies funded InnovATOR project.

I was appointed as extra-ordinary professor of Industrial Sustainable Chemistry at HIMS in October 2016. I am specialized in Catalysis, Bio-based chemistry (building blocks and polymers) and sustainability. At the UvA I am working on sustainable monomers and polymers (bio-based, CO2-based and chemical recycled monomers). Our focus is on polyesters for durable application (e.g. ABS replacement in collaboration with LEGO) or on novel sustainable materials for packaging applications that combine great performance (mechanical, thermal and barrier properties) with full biodegradability in soil and in marine environments. With Social Psychology at the UvA, we study consumer behaviour (willingness to pay for sustainable alternatives) and we study positive drivers such as "seen to be green". With the VU we are working on the quantification of microplastics in the (marine) environment. I am inventor on more than 100 patents and author of about 40 scientific papers and book chapters. I was named European CTO of the year in 2014.

I joined HIMS in 2012-2016 as research scientist on the Paint Alterations in Time (PAinT), a Science4Art NWO project, and since 2018 as an associate professor. I initiated and led several (inter)national projects. For most of them I have received grants like EU-H2020, EU-JPI, NFS-PIRE, NWO-NICAS and TALENT. The research carried out at HIMS focuses on ageing and degradation studies of pigments and oil paintings at the micro- and molecular level, especially related to pigment-binding medium interactions and migration processes. The research falls under the umbrella of the Netherlands Institute for Conservation, Art and Science (NICAS). Besides the position at HIMS, I am head of Science at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. The Science department conducts research on the Rijksmuseum collection in close collaboration with conservators, curators and (technical) art historians.

I joined HIMS as professor by special appointment in Self-Organising Matter in 2021. My research focuses on the dynamic interplay between chemical reactions and crystallisation phenomena to control the emergence of complexity in the solid state. Research areas such as Soft Matter, Macromolecular Chemistry and Organic Chemistry come together here. My ultimate goal is to arrive at new assembly mechanisms for functional molecules and materials. I received my PhD from Radboud University in 2010 and then joined Harvard University as a postdoctoral researcher. From 2014 to 2015 I was both a research associate at Harvard University and an assistant professor at Radboud University. Since 2015 I lead the Self-Organising Matter group at AMOLF in Amsterdam. I am the recipient of various grants, including Veni, Vidi and KLEIN grants from the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

B. van der Zwaan

Professor by special appointment / Sustainable Energy Technology

Trained in physics, economics and international affairs, I am a principal scientist at the Energy Transition department of TNO (formerly the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands, ECN) as well as an Adjunct Prof at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Bologna. I joined HIMS in 2014 as Professor of Sustainable Energy Technology. I am the scientific director of the UvA's interfaculty Research Priority Area 'Energy transition through the lens of Sustainable Developments Goals' (ENLENS). I teach courses on energy and climate change, perform integrated assessment modeling and research the sustainability and techno-economics of a broad range of energy options. I held positions at Columbia University, Harvard University, Stanford University, VU, IFRI, Nikhef, and CERN. I am co-director of the International Energy Workshop (IEW) and was lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, AR4, and AR5).