Institute of Physics

Institute of Physics (IoP)

Welcome

The Institute of Physics (IoP) comprises all physics research at the University of Amsterdam.

It was founded in January 2011 as a merger of the Institute for Theoretical Physics Amsterdam (ITFA), the Institute for High Energy Physics (IHEF), and the Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute for experimental physics (WZI).

Refer to

Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITFA)
Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute (WZI)
Institute for High-Energy Physics (IHEF)

IoP News

ENI Renewable Energy Prize 2012 for Albert Polman

The prestigious ENI Renewable and Non-conventional Energy Prize 2012 has been awarded jointly to UvA professor Albert Polman and Harry Atwater (CalTech) for their research on high-efficiency solar cells based on nanophotonic design.

E-MRS Young Scientist Award for Saba Saeed

Saba Saeed, a PhD student in the Optoelectronic Materials group of the Institute of Physics, received the Young Scientist Award during the 2012 spring meeting of the European Materials Research Society.

FOM 'Projectruimte' grant for UvA physicist Robert Spreeuw

The Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) has awarded a 'Projectruimte' grant to UvA scientist Dr Robert Spreeuw (Institute of Physics) for his project Superatoms and entanglement in an array of atomic ensembles. The grant includes a PhD position, a 1.5-year postdoc position as well as a €128,000 investment budget.

Professor Gary Shiu appointed to Van der Waals chair

Theoretical physicist prof. Gary Shiu of the University of Wisconsin will be appointed professor by special appointment to the ‘Johannes Diderik van der Waals’ chair. Shiu has many important contributions to his name, in particular regarding the phenomenology of string theory.

Physicists observe the splitting of an electron

An electron has been observed to decay into two separate particles, each carrying a particular property of the electron. This result is reported in a paper published in Nature by an international team of researchers including theoretical physicist prof.dr. J.-S. Caux from the UvA.

Documentary on Higgs search receives film prize

The documentary HIGGS: Into the heart of imagination has been awarded the Grand Prix of the second edition of the Film&Science festival. In this movie, UvA professor Stan Bentvelsen and his colleagues are filmed during their search for the elusive Higgs particle.

Quantum process in silicon nanocrystals extracts more solar energy

A group of scientists led by prof. dr. Tom Gregorkiewicz from the Institute of Physics of the UvA has experimentally revealed a quantum process within silicon nanocrystals that transmits excess energy to neighboring nanocrystals, avoiding energy losses to heat. The team of scientists from UvA and TUDelft have published their findings on March 18 in an Advance Online Publicaton of the journal Nature Photonics.

Prof. A. Polman

Prof. A. Polman has been named Professor of Photonic Materials in the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam.

Nikhef/IoP puts two projects on NWO Roadmap 2012

The two proposals for the NWO Roadmap 2012 that were submitted by Nikhef and in which the Institute of Physics participates, have both been granted. With this, Nikhef has put both the detector upgrades for the currently running LHC experiment at CERN, and the neutrino telescope KM3NeT on the agenda.

Topological superconductor in sight

Researchers from the FOM foundation, the Institute of Physics (IoP) of the University of Amsterdam and the National Institute for Materials Science in Tsukuba (Japan) have demonstrated that the electrons in a topological superconductor behave in an unusual manner.

Jook Walraven on shortlist for Teacher of the Year 2011

Prof. dr. Jook Walraven, professor of experimental statistical physics at the Institute of Physics, has been placed on the shortlist of the UvA Teacher of the Year 2011. On Wednesday December 14th, he and the other nominees will try and convince the jury and the audience during a presentation night in the Comedy Theatre.

Green plastic powered by FOM, Michelin, SKF and DPI

Under leadership of UvA professor Daniel Bonn, the FOM Foundation has formed a partnership with Michelin, SKF and Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) to gain a better fundamental understanding of how polymers are reinforced by adding fillers. A new FOM Industrial Partnership Programme was launched with a budget of 1.6 million euros.

FOM Programme 'Topological Insulators' funded

The proposal for the FOM programme 'Topological Insulators', submitted by programme leader prof. dr. Mark Golden, has been selected for funding for a total of 2.7M€.

Testimonials

Focus on research: Building on the shoulders of giants

GRAPPA is a center of excellence in which astrophysicists, particle physicists and theorists all come together. With their combined knowledge, its members hope to answer some of the biggest questions of the universe.

Focus on research: theoretical physicist Jean-Sébastien Caux

‘Theoretical physics is very logical. Now, to my mind psychology is something really difficult', says Jean-Sébastien Caux, Institute for Theoretical Physics. His research concentrates on the theoretical side of condensed matter – solid and liquid matter.

Focus on research: theoretical physicist Marika Taylor

Theoretical physicist Marika Taylor studies string theory and black holes. The fascination with physics started at an early age. ‘Even as a very small child, I remember wondering why water flowed, or why the sky was blue.'

Focus on research: Physicist Peter Schall

There is ‘a whole zoo’ of new substances out there just waiting to be discovered, according to Schall. In order to learn more about the process behind the formation of perfectly regular crystals, undistorted by gravity, Schall will soon be sending his particles into space, to the ISS space station.

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Institute of Physics

Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute (WZI)

Institute for Theoretical Physics Amsterdam (ITFA)

Institute for High-Energy Physics (IHEF)

Highlighted vacancy:

Full professor of Experimental Quantum Physics (click for details).

Contact details IoP

Institute of Physics
Science Park 904
1098 XH Amsterdam
E: iop@uva.nl
T: +31 20 525 5773
F: +31 20 525 5778

Science Park Amsterdam