Frederik Tielens

Frederik Tielens is a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Chemistry at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). He holds a habilitation in Chemistry from Sorbonne Université, focusing on computational and theoretical approaches to material characterization. His research emphasizes silica-based materials, noble metals, and bio-materials using Density Functional Theory (DFT). Collaborations with experimentalists and interdisciplinary projects, such as the EU-funded CHARISMA2020 initiative, highlight his commitment to bridging computational and experimental methods. Tielens has led over 20 projects, including strategic research initiatives at VUB, and has been recognized with awards like the DSM Prijs and Amadeus Award. His work spans catalysis, environmental chemistry, and biomedical applications, with a focus on material stability and reactivity at atomic/molecular levels.

Education:

• Habilitation in Chemistry, Sorbonne Université (2010)
• Post-doctoral positions at Sorbonne Université and Jaume I University (2003–2007)

Research Interests: Theoretical spectroscopy, DFT modeling of material properties, catalytic mechanisms, and environmental applications of nanomaterials. Recent work includes studying calcium carbonate polymorphs, graphene nanoclusters, and adsorption dynamics of pharmaceuticals on silica surfaces.

Awards & Recognition:

• Strategic Research Group designation (VUB)
• EU Seal of Excellence
• 17+ international awards, including DSM Prijs (2001) and Amadeus Award (2012)

Grants & Projects:

• HERC65: X-ray approaches for material characterization
• CHARISMA2020: Standardizing Raman spectroscopy
• EU-funded projects on energy storage and catalysis (e.g., 4TunaTES)

Labs & Teams: Leads the Materials Modeling Group within VUB's ALGC strategic research unit, focusing on interdisciplinary computational and experimental collaborations in materials science.