Richard van de Sanden director FOM Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen
FOM has appointed Prof. Richard van de Sanden as director of the FOM Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen with effect from 1 January 2011. Van de Sanden (46) is FOM workgroup leader and professor at Eindhoven University of Technology. He has a prestigious track record in the field of plasma physics and plasma chemistry. Over the next few years, Rijnhuizen will relocate to the campus of Eindhoven University of Technology and will be reorganised into a national FOM institute for fundamental energy research. Van de Sanden will head up the development of the new research agenda and with this shape the national role of the new institute. He will also ensure a smooth relocation to Eindhoven. Van de Sanden succeeds Prof. Aart Kleyn, who accepted a position at the University of Amsterdam this summer.
"Richard van de Sanden fits superbly into the profile of the new director. He is an excellent scientist and much appreciated colleague with an eye for developments both inside and outside the field," says Wim van Saarloos, director of FOM. "Both the research field and the FOM institute will benefit from his unifying leadership." Van de Sanden has been professor and group leader of the Plasma & Materials Processing group in Eindhoven since 2000. In particular, he focuses on the analysis of the physicochemical processes that play a role in plasma disposition: the sedimentation and modification of thin films by plasmas. These technologies can be used in the production of various items such as solar cells, optical coatings, and other semiconductor applications such as microbatteries and capacitors. Many PhD theses and scientific articles published in renowned journals have already led to various scientific and other prizes, including the William Crookes Prize from the EPS for his plasma physics/plasma chemistry work. In Eindhoven, Van de Sanden has built up a large research group of considerable international acclaim. Furthermore, he has a good eye for the possibilities to valorise his work as well as a proven track record in knowledge dissemination. For these efforts, he received the first FOM Valorisation Prize in 2009. This year he was appointed a member of the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities.
Van de Sanden is looking forward to his new job: "What appeals to me most is that I will be involved in the plans for the relocation and expansion of Rijnhuizen almost right from the start and that motivates me considerably. It is a fantastic job and I am really looking forward to realising a coherent national research agenda in the area of fundamental energy research as this is something we desperately need!"
Energy research at FOM
In its strategic plan 2010-2015 'Top physics for society' FOM has indicated its wish to give a strong boost to fundamental energy research. In addition to the national FOM institute for fundamental energy research at the campus of Eindhoven University of Technology, FOM will set up a number of focus groups in the field of energy that will be accommodated at other universities. With these focus groups FOM wants to realise major innovations in the national landscape of fundamental energy research. This will require both powerful and inspiring leadership as well as a strong local infrastructure. The energy focus groups will maintain strong links with the new institute for fundamental energy research. On top of this FOM is actively seeking connections with other disciplines and organisations so that a joint national approach can be realised.
Further information
-Press release FOM Valorisation Prize 2009 for Van de Sanden: /live/nieuws/archief_persberichten/persberichten2009/artikel.pag?objectnumber=95738
-Energy research and the expansion of the FOM Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen: /live/onderzoek/instituten/energieonderzoek.pag
- FOM Strategic Plan 2010-2015: /live/overfom/missie_strategie/strategisch_plan.pag
-Work area Plasma & Materials Processing:
http://www.phys.tue.nl/pmp/
Contact
Richard van de Sanden, telephone +31 (0)40 247 4880.
Gieljan de Vries, Head of Public Information and Communication Rijnhuizen, telephone +31 (0)30 609 6902.
Gabby Zegers, Head of Communication FOM, telephone +31 (0)30 600 1208.