Our research
Research
Researchers at AMOLF investigate the fundamental relationship between the architecture and interactions of complex molecular and material systems, ranging from nanophotonic structures to multicellular organisms, with the goal to understand their properties and functions. AMOLF also aims to initiate excellent new research in this field. The obtained knowledge and insights are used to create novel functional materials and to find new solutions to important societal problems.
Core topics
Our research themes
AMOLF’s research program comprises three strongly connected research themes:
AMOLF’s research program comprises three strongly connected research themes
Research themes (2)
Developing new insights, materials and devices to efficiently convert sunlight to electricity and chemicals
Exploring information processing in inanimate and living matter, novel learning and adaptive materials
Understanding and creating materials with embodied autonomy that can sense, adapt, and act on their own
Our researchers operate in 18 research groups, each led by a group leader
Research groups
The research groups are organized into three departments, one for each research theme, to enable effective interdisciplinary collaboration around key scientific topics.
Research facilities
For exploring novel fields of research, our researchers need unique advanced equipment, electronics, and software that often cannot be obtained commercially. Therefore, this is specially designed and made by our technical departments: Precision Manufacturing, Mechanical Design, Software Engineering, and Electronics Engineering.
AMOLF is also committed to supporting the development of science and innovation more broadly. In line with this, we offer valuable research facilities that are also accessible to scientists from outside the institute: AMOLF houses the NanoLab Amsterdam cleanroom facility for nanofabrication and nanocharacterization, and a unique Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), that allows researchers to watch materials at the atomic scale and see what is happening over time and under the influence of light.
Research Expertise Centers
Our strongly interdisciplinary research is supported by five Research Expertise Centers: LMPV, Chemistry and Spectroscopy, Living Systems, Modern Mechanics, and Nanophotonics.
Research Expertise Centers are dedicated hubs for training and scientific exchange. They are designed to foster the development of expertise, support researcher training, and stimulate scientific interaction and collaboration. Research Expertise Centers focus on specific areas of expertise, whereas the research themes cover broader research domains.
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Collaboration and partnerships
AMOLF’s research is deeply collaborative. We partner with many universities and research institutes, and we collaborate with industry partners in the Netherlands and internationally.
These partnerships and collaborations enable us to explore new research areas and connect fundamental discoveries to societal applications. At the same time, they allow our academic partners to deepen and broaden their research, while our industry collaborations help businesses drive fundamental innovation.
