Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter
Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, led by chairholder Jasper van der Gucht, is interested in phenomena at the nanoscale, where creative chemistry is essential, complex physics is a rule rather than an exception and biology comes to life.
Research themes
Education
Education by Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter
Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter contributes to teaching across a range of BSc and MSc programmes at Wageningen University & Research. Our courses cover the physical and chemical principles underlying soft and biological materials, including molecular interactions, self-assembly, transport phenomena, mechanics, and advanced experimental and computational methods.
Publications & Projects
Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter explores how molecular interactions give rise to the structure, dynamics, and mechanics of complex materials and living systems. Our research combines experiments, theory, and modelling to uncover the physical principles that govern these systems. An overview of our publications and research projects can be found in the Wageningen University & Research Library.
Chairholder
Jasper van der Gucht is professor and chair of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter. He leads an interdisciplinary group that aims to understand the microscopic mechanisms that underlie mechanical properties and functioning of soft materials, in particular (bio)polymer and colloidal materials. Some of his current interests include polymer materials based on electrostatic interactions, structure formation in drying films, and fracture and non-linear mechanics of biopolymer networks.
People of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter
Meet the people of our Chair Group.
News & insights
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