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Main Research Fields
Label-free vibrational spectroscopy and microscopy of soft matter and biomolecular systems and water in such systems, including model systems for biological membranes; Surface dynamics: elucidating mechanism and timescales of molecular motion and energy transfer at surface and interfaces; Studies of carrier dynamics in organic semiconducting systems, nanocrystalline semiconductors and other photovoltaic building blocks and systems.
Scientific Career
Since 2010 | Director at the Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research Mainz |
Since 2005 | Extraordinary Professor (Physics Dept.), University of Amsterdam |
Since 2004 | Group Leader at FOM-Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics |
2003 - 2004 | Associate Professor (tenured) at Leiden University (Chem. Dept.) |
1999 - 2002 | Assistant Professor (fixed term) at Leiden University (Chem. Dept.) |
1998 - 2001 | Postdoc at Columbia University, NY, USA |
1997 - 1999 | Postdoc at the Fritz Haber (Max Planck) Institute, Berlin, Germany |
1993 - 1996 | PhD in Physical Chemistry, AMOLF/University of Eindhoven |
1989 - 1993 | MSc in Physical Chemistry, University of Amsterdam |
Scholarships, Awards and Honors
Since 2010 | Program Director within National Initiative “Hightech Systems and Materials” (the Netherlands) |
2010 | Elected as one of 60 ‘Outstanding Young Scientists’ worldwide to attend and contribute to the World Economic Forum, Tianjin, China |
2009 - 2010 | Scientific Advisor of Alexander Pechtold, Chairman of the Dutch Democratic Party |
2009 | Gold Medal from the Royal Dutch Chemical Society |
2003 - 2011 | Elected and twice re-elected Chair of the Scientific Counsel, FOM-Institute AMOLF |
2007 | Personal Fellowship (‘VICI’) from Dutch Science Foundation; finished 1st in 2007 national competition (perfect score) |
2004 | Elected Member of ‘The Young Academy’ of the ‘Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences‘ (KNAW), Amsterdam |