Bart Jan Ravoo

Prof. Dr. Bart Jan Ravoo is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Münster, Germany, where he leads the "Synthesis of Nanoscale Systems" research group. He is also co-director of the Center for Soft Nanoscience (SoN) and spokesperson of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC 1459) "Intelligent Matter". His research focuses on creating novel nanoscale materials through supramolecular chemistry and molecular self-assembly.

Prof. Ravoo received his PhD from the University of Groningen in 1998 and completed postdoctoral work at University College Dublin. He joined the University of Münster in 2007 as a professor, after serving as an assistant professor at the University of Twente. From 2012-2014, he served as Dean of the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy.

His research spans three main areas: biomimetic supramolecular chemistry, surface functionalization by molecular self-organization, and responsive materials. Prof. Ravoo's group is particularly known for developing photoresponsive materials using arylazopyrazoles and cyclodextrin-based systems for applications ranging from drug delivery to smart adhesives. His work often bridges the gap between fundamental molecular design and practical applications in biomedicine and materials science.

Prof. Ravoo's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on light-responsive materials, with particular emphasis on arylazopyrazole and arylazoisoxazole photoswitches. His research shows how molecular photoswitches can be integrated into various material systems including hydrogels, nanoparticles, and surface coatings to create materials with tunable properties that respond to specific wavelengths of light. This work has important implications for drug delivery, sensing, and adaptive materials.

• Recipient of the Schering-Plough Newman Scholarship in Organic Chemistry
• Member of the "Cells in Motion" research cluster
• Supervisor in the CiM-IMPRS Graduate Programme

Prof. Ravoo has supervised over 40 PhD students and has been instrumental in establishing interdisciplinary research collaborations at the University of Münster. His group, consisting of approximately 25 researchers, is supported by multiple funding agencies including the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), European Union, and Volkswagen Foundation.