Huib Bakker interim director of AMOLF
Huib Bakker has been appointed as interim director of AMOLF as of 1 September 2015. Bakker knows AMOLF well; he carried out his doctorate degree at AMOLF and since 2003 he leads the molecular biophysics department. He has a background in physics and combines this with a strong multidisciplinary focus, oftentimes working with business organizations. Bakker is professor at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and is a member of the Royal Dutch Academy (KNAW). At AMOLF he succeeds Vinod Subramaniam, who will take on the position of Rector Magnificus at VU University Amsterdam on 1 September.
Bakker (1965) is an expert in using ultrafast spectroscopy to elucidate the dynamics and structure of water and ice in their various forms. A unique infrared spectroscopy technique developed by Bakker enables researchers to determine the motion and interaction of water molecules. This knowledge about the behaviour of water molecules is of fundamental importance and in applications for the food industry, energy storage and water purification.
On 10 July interim FOM director Christa Hooijer announced the news at AMOLF. Hooijer is "extremely happy to see that Huib Bakker is willing to take on this task. He is an excellent scientist with a multidisciplinary background and he feels strongly connected to the institute with its scientists and support staff" .