Staff
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 2012 when I was appointed on a special chair in Forensic Analytical Chemistry while working for the Netherlands Forensic Institute. In 2018, I transferred to the UvA on a full chair on Forensic Analytical Chemistry and On-Scene Chemical Analysis. My research interests include the chemical profiling of explosives and chemical warfare agents, rapid chemical identification of illicit drugs with portable instruments, the use of comprehensive two-dimensional chromatography in forensic science and the chemical imaging of forensic traces. With Prof. Aalders I am responsible for the Co van Ledden Hulsebosch Center (CLHC), the Amsterdam Center for Forensic Science and Medicine. I am also the director of the Forensic MSc Program (MFS) at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies.
I am affiliated with the UvA since 2001 and was appointed full professor in 2006 with a chair in the simulation of biomolecular systems. Located on the interface of (bio)physical chemistry and statistical mechanics, my research focuses on the development of advanced multiscale computational approaches to solve fundamental as well as practical problems inspired by relevant experimental systems. Simultaneously, I apply these methods to interesting and important topics, such as biomolecular conformational changes, protein aggregation, colloidal self-assembly and phase transitions. Personal grants such as a FOM-Springplank, NWO-VIDI and VICI, as well as many open competition grants, allow me to pursue these goals. I am currently director of HIMS and also of the Amsterdam Centre for Multiscale Modeling (ACMM) and of the Dutch CECAM Node.
Since 2015 I am appointed as a full professor of conservation science, 80% of my time funded by the faculty of humanities and 20% of my time by the Faculty of Science where I joined HIMS. I focus on the characterization of organic colourants and their degradation products trying to understand the original colours of works of art which are often severely faded. In addition, I am interested in new forms of presenting cultural heritage, including retouching artworks with coloured light. Furthermore, I study the (chemical) alteration of archaeological materials, such as textiles and metals, on one hand to understand their making and meaning and on other hand to develop new preservation strategies. I received several EU and NWO grants. By this work, I aim to form a bridge between science and humanities.
I started my HIMS career as an Assistant Prof in 2005. In 2008 I got promoted to Associate Prof and in 2013 I became Full Professor. I received several personal grants in this period, such as ERC-StG, NWO-VIDI, VICI, ECHO and TOP grants. I was further elected as ‘UvA teacher of the year 2015’, in a university-broad competition organized by the students of the UvA. My research interests include molecular catalysis, organometallic chemistry, inorganic reaction mechanisms, EPR spectroscopy, redox reactions, supramolecular cages, computational chemistry and radical chemistry. I presently focus on open-shell (radical-type) organometallic catalysis as a tool in homogeneous catalysis, using metals in unconventional oxidation states and with unconventional (redox active & cooperative) ligands, specifically aiming at the development of new (radical-type) catalytic reactions.
I started working at the UvA in 1991, became professor by special appointment on behalf of the John van Geuns Fonds in 2000, and full professor in 2005. Since 2017 I hold a chair by special appointment as well at the Radboud University where I am affiliated to the FELIX Laboratory. My research focuses on the development and application of laser spectroscopic methods to study photoactive functional molecules and materials, as well as astrochemically relevant molecules. A further research interest is the development and application of novel chiroptical structural analysis methods. Major grants include 7 EC-funded Networks and 15 grants in highly competitive programs at the national level. In 2008 I was awarded the EU Descartes Prize for Transnational Research as member of the SynNanoMotors team. I am currently scientific director of the Holland Research School of Molecular Chemistry (HRSMC).
I joined HIMS as a full professor in 2014 following an international career where I worked in academia around the world, most recently Turku. In the past, I have established several large (inter)national facilities and cooperations that integrate and rely on the use of mass spectrometers to characterize and quantify proteins in biological systems, with an emphasis on clinical applications. At HIMS I continue to focus on MS developments for applications in clinical and biological applications, expanded with the areas Forensic Sciences and ‘Science for Art’ that require new molecular information. Our current research encompasses the development of new ionization methods, advanced separation systems, new chemistries to probe biological systems and computational methods for mass spectrometric data analysis
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 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.
After working for almost six years as a pharmacochemist at Solvay-Pharmaceuticals I became aware that the development of new synthetic methodology in combination with teaching gives me the greatest joy. In 1999 I joined HIMS, becoming a full professor in 2015. I obtained several NWO grants. As said, teaching the next generation of chemists is very important for me and after receiving several teaching awards I was elected ‘UvA teacher of the year’ by the student council in 2013. I have a long tradition in alkaloid natural product synthesis, transition-metal and organocatalysis and the development of cyclization methods for peptides. However, in the recent years I completely devoted my research activities towards the covalent synthesis of mechanically interlocked molecules such as rotaxanes and catenanes. Besides developing rotaxanes as directional electron shuttles in photocatalytic devices it is my dream to synthesize the natural lasso peptide series.
I joined the UvA in 1998 as a Royal Academy fellow, participating in setting up the Computational Chemistry research theme. My interest is in the area of molecular simulation, developing and applying advanced Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics methods to understand and predict material properties and chemical processes. In the area of (aqueous) chemistry my work addresses the role of solvent in chemical systems using realistic and accurate models. Employing first-principle molecular dynamics I have shown, on an atomistic level, how solvent plays a crucial role in a variety of (catalytic) chemical systems, providing important novel insights of a generic nature. I have acquired a wide range of research funding, including FOM/NWO programs and projects, and EU Erasmus Mundus and PhD training networks.
I joined HIMS as a full professor and chair of Flow Chemistry in 2020. I have a strong interest in combining technology and organic synthesis, hence developing go-to technologies which allows chemists to expand the available chemical space. I am the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Flow Chemistry and a member of the board of directors of the Flow Chemistry Society. Our research on photochemistry in microfluidic reactors was awarded the DECHEMA award 2017 and the Hoogewerff Jongerenprijs 2019.
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).
I was appointed as extra-ordinary professor of Bioterial Analysis at HIMS in 2015. I am principal scientist Material Analysis at Covestro. My interest is in the analysis/characterization of nano, meso and macro structure of high performance copolymers, applied in the area of food, energy, biomedical, esthetic coating, etc. At HIMS, the research focus is on the development of multidimensional chromatographic and detection methods for detailed analysis of complex synthetic copolymeric structures. The goal is the coupling of different information with respect to chemical structure distributions of copolymers, so-called Molecular Correlative Materials Characterization. Several PPP’s (NWO/COAST/STW) are running in this area; Maniac, Debocs, Hosanna, UNMATCHED and the recent one PARADISE. These PPP’s have already delivered new systems/approaches which results in new insights in polymer structures including nm-sized dispersed polymeric particles.
I am working at HIMS since 1998, and was promoted full professor in 2006 and faculty professor in 2017. I am proud to be elected member of the KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Art and Sciences) as well as KHMW (Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities), and currently I am the scientific director of NIOK, (Netherlands Institute for Catalysis Research). I received several personal grants to work on my scientific dreams, including an ERC Advanced Grant, NWO-VICI and TOP grants. I have an interest in developing new concepts in transition metal catalysis, and particularly on the border between supramolecular chemistry and catalysis. I also have an interest in building solar to fuel devices based on molecular components, and generate all knowledge required to achieve that.
I joined the UvA in 2001 and was appointed Full Professor and Chair in 2008. My group focuses on designing catalysts and materials for sustainable chemistry and energy applications. We combine fundamental and applied research, designing new materials based on an understanding of the molecular processes at surfaces. Our portfolio includes hydrocyanation (catalyst patented by Rhodia/Solvay), Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (with Total Gas & Power), and waste cyanide decomposition (scaled up by Tata Steel). I also founded three spin-off companies: Sorbisense A/S in Denmark, and Yellow Diesel BV and Plantics BV in the Netherlands. On the education side, I teach courses on Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry and workshops on scientific writing and innovation. My textbook “Catalysis: Concepts & Green Applications” is used worldwide and is also available in Chinese. I also wrote a textbook on Ceramic Membranes and edited the Handbook of Porous Materials. I have strong collaborations with several Chinese institutes, and served as Senior Visiting scholar at Fudan University in 2018 and Technical Director CO2 and Circular Economy at the Shanghai Institute for CleanTech Innovation in 2023.
I was promoted to associate professor in 2014 at VU Amsterdam, elected as best (junior) lecturer of the Faculty of Sciences in 2015, and moved to HIMS in February 2017. My research focuses on small molecule activation (CH4, CO2, N2, …), functionalization using main-group / organic compounds and the development of sustainable phosphorus chemistry using P-waste as a resource, all aimed at the synthesis of valuable compounds using inexpensive resources. To aid the design and synthesis, I apply the full gamut of physical organic chemistry tools together with computational chemistry as invaluable, predictive models to analyze the processes in great depth. To pursue these scientific goals, I received NWO-TALENT, VIDI and VICI personal grants as well as several PPP grants, and have coordinated the Marie Curie ITN SusPhos.
After a PhD at AMOLF, a postdoc at the Max-Born Institute in Berlin, and a project leader position at AMOLF, I joined HIMS in 2006. My research employs vibrational spectroscopy to (1) live-track dynamic molecular structures (liquid water, but also catalytic systems in cooperation with the Sustainable-Chemistry group, and paint degradation in cooperation with UvA’s PAinT research team); (2) unravel the mechanism of amyloid formation, in cooperation with Mireille Claessens (UT) and Tobias Weidner (Aarhus University); (3) explain how the rich behavior of soft matter can be understood from its constituent molecules (in cooperation with IoP’s Soft- Matter group). In each of these areas, an approach that combines chemistry and physics is essential for addressing the research questions. To investigate molecular processes at the level of specific chemical bonds, we use vibrational spectroscopy, which is ideally suited for this purpose.
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).