Institute of Physics

Physics research and education at our institute covers a wide range of topics - both experimental and theoretical, and ranging from fundamental to more applied.

Hannelore Derluyn appointed professor by special appointment in Structure and Dynamics of Porous Media

Hannelore Derluyn has been appointed as professor by special appointment in Structure and Dynamics of Porous Media at the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam. The chair is being established on behalf of ...
What friction and red traffic lights have in common

Picture yourself at a busy pedestrian crossing. When the light is red, everyone waits – until one person starts to cross. Soon, others follow, and eventually everyone follows the crowd and crosses. Amsterdam ...
UvA physicist Lorenz Eberhardt receives Gribov Medal

The Gribov Medal, a prize established by the European Physical Society for outstanding work by a young theoretical physicist, has been awarded to UvA scientist Lorenz Eberhardt. It is the first time the prestigious ...
The first ever Amsterdam Physics Show

The inaugural Amsterdam Physics Show is happening on May 8th, 2025! Inspired by the renowned Bonn Physics Show led by Herbert Dreiner, a dedicated group of physics students from the University of Amsterdam has ...
NWO ENW-M grants for two UvA Faculty of Science researchers

NWO has awarded grants to 21 projects in the latest round of the Open Competition ENW-M. Two of these projects are led by researchers who work at the UvA Faculty of Science : the project of Marieke Postma and that of ...
Teresa Marrodán Undagoitia appointed professor by special appointment in Novel Detection and Analysis Techniques for Dark Matter and Neutrino Experiments

Teresa Marrodán Undagoitia has been appointed as professor by special appointment in Novel Detection and Analysis Techniques for Dark Matter and Neutrino Experiments at the Faculty of Science of the University of ...
15 April: Ig Nobel Night at NEMO

At the most recent edition of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, two UvA teams won the famous prize: Daniel Bonn, Antoine Deblais, Tess Heeremans and Sander Woutersen won the Chemistry Ig Nobel for their research on drunk ...
Polymerlike worms wriggle their way through mazes

In a crowded room, we naturally move slower than in an empty space. Surprisingly, worms can show the exact opposite behaviour: in an environment with randomly scattered obstacles, they tend to move faster when there ...
Partnership Toyota with quantum research centre QuSoft

Recognizing the potential of quantum computing, Toyota Motors Europe has teamed up with the Dutch research centre QuSoft to better model and enhance the understanding of catalytic materials. This partnership is a key ...
How to freeze bottles without making a mess

Have you ever left a bottle of liquid in the freezer, only to find it cracked or shattered? To save you from tedious freezer cleanups, researchers at the University of Amsterdam have investigated why this happens, ...