SEP Committee report

Every six years the NWO institutes are evaluated by an external international committee according to the so-called Strategy Evaluation Protocol (SEP). In December 2023, an international committee chaired by Professor Hans Hilgenkamp (University of Twente) visited AMOLF. The final evaluation report has recently been shared with NWO and AMOLF. The committee is very impressed by the excellent research at AMOLF and the collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Compliments

The committee was especially pleased with the added value of the three new research themes. In 2021, AMOLF rearranged its research organization, structuring the scientific groups in three highly interdisciplinary research themes. The committee praises AMOLF with this approach: “to the knowledge of the committee there is nowhere else in the world where researchers from nanophotonics, mechanical metamaterials and living systems are talking in such a deep way about the fundamental ideas that connect their very different systems, and the panel expects that this will lead to very interesting fundamental discoveries.”
The committee is also enthusiastic about the role that AMOLF plays in the national and international scientific field: “AMOLF shows strong commitment to fulfil its national role as an initiator and incubator of research directions that are new to the Netherlands, that usually develop into larger national research programs.” The committee also mentions the large amount of international collaborations leading to many joint publications and topical research networks.

Recommendations

The committee also makes recommendations to further strengthen the institute: “AMOLF must continuously invest in a diverse, collaborative, and supportive research environment. This includes, among other things, optimal support systems for its PhD students, reducing workload for (technical) support staff, and creating optimal career paths for tenure track group leaders.”. AMOLF is grateful for these recommendations, and will follow these closely in the coming years.
AMOLF director Huib Bakker is pleased with the report and the recommendations. “AMOLF excels in fundamental science in the strategic themes we identified, and in being a highly collaborative and inclusive work place. Moreover, the committee applauds the strong national role we take in starting new research directions and in organizing large research initiatives. I am very proud of all the people at AMOLF who together make our institute to such a success.”

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People and recognition

Four PhD candidates close their AMOLF chapter

Four PhD students defended their thesis and are about to take the next steps in their career. Congratulations to Colin Meulblok (Mechanical Metamaterials), Francesca Scalerandi (Hybrid Nanosystems), Vashist Gangigude Ramesh (Interacting Photons), and Parisa Omidvar (Hypersmart Matter). We wish you all the best in your next steps!

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People and recognition

Joining forces to study perovskite interfaces

AMOLF group leaders Professor Wiebke Albrecht and Professor Bruno Ehrler have received an NWO ENW-M2 grant for their joint research project, The Dynamic Atomic Interface between Halide Perovskites and Metals. The insights gained will pave the way for sustainable, high-performance solar energy and information technology. Wiebke and Bruno will each hire a PhD student for this project. The grant amounts to €800.000.

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People and recognition

Wim Noorduin and Arian van Asten presenting their scientific journey

On October 8, Professor Wim Noorduin and his collaborator Professor Arian van Asten (University of Amsterdam) presented their scientific journey in a video to the audience at the ‘Avond van Wetenschap en Maatschappij’. They did so alongside the other nominees for the Huibregtsen Prize.

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Research highlights

Natural phenomena ‘hyperuniform disorder’ enables highly efficient, thin silicon solar cells

Silicon solar panels are rigid and heavy, and many rooftops cannot support them. This creates a need for thin, flexible solar cells that can be integrated into building materials. However, making silicon solar cells thinner makes it harder to trap light inside the material. Researchers in the 3D Photovoltaics group found a fascinating way to overcome this challenge using a phenomenon called hyperuniform disorder. They publish their findings in the journal ACS Photonics.

The researchers were able to make highly efficient silicon solar cell materials that are 30 times thinner than conventional ones. They managed to do this by integrating a layer of nanometer sized structures on top of the material. Up close, this pattern looks random, but it is remarkably when you step back: no clumps, no gaps, and no repeating pattern. This is called hyperuniform disorder (or HUD).

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