Douwe Jan Bonthuis

Douwe Jan Bonthuis is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Theoretical and Computational Physics at Graz University of Technology. His research focuses on theoretical biophysics, particularly the transport and dynamics of water, ions, and biological molecules at interfaces and under confinement. He specializes in bridging molecular-level simulations with continuum theory to explain complex electrokinetic phenomena.

His research interests include:

• Molecular solvent structure at aqueous interfaces
• Dielectric profiles of interfacial water
• Electro-osmotic flow in nanochannels
• Ion adsorption phenomena
• Nanopore transport and ionic current fluctuations
• Electrohydraulic power conversion

Bonthuis's recent publications (2019-2022) reveal a strong focus on the molecular mechanisms behind interfacial phenomena, particularly examining how trace impurities affect surface properties, the dielectric response of water at interfaces, and the connection between microscopic ion motions and macroscopic conductivity. His work combines sophisticated molecular dynamics simulations with continuum theory to provide fundamental insights into electrokinetic phenomena at the nanoscale.

Bonthuis has made significant contributions to understanding:

• The role of interfacial viscosity in electrokinetics
• Surface activity of hydrated protons
• Mechanisms of ion channel activation
• The dielectric profile of water at solid surfaces
• Electrohydraulic pumping without mobile charges

His work has been published in leading journals including Nature Reviews Chemistry, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Physical Review Letters, and Langmuir. Bonthuis maintains active collaborations with researchers across Europe, particularly with R.R. Netz and other prominent scientists in the field of theoretical biophysics.