Ilja K. Voets

Ilja K. Voets is a Full Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, leading the Self-Organizing Soft Matter research group. She is also a Core member of the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS). Her academic journey began at Wageningen University & Research where she earned her PhD cum laude in 2008, followed by postdoctoral research at the Aldolphe Merkle Institute in Switzerland. Since 2011, she has been at TU/e, becoming a full professor in 2018.

Her educational background includes Molecular Sciences at Wageningen University & Research, with a PhD focusing on micellisation in dilute aqueous solutions of oppositely charged double hydrophilic block copolymers. She was supervised by dr. Arie de Keizer and prof. Martien A. Cohen Stuart.

Professor Voets leads an interdisciplinary team of chemists, physicists, biologists, and engineers studying self-assembly processes in biological soft matter. Her research focuses on colloidal self-organization, polymer assembly and folding, and protein biophysics, with particular interest in ice-binding proteins that help organisms survive in extreme cold environments. She investigates how to control intra- and intermolecular copolymer assembly to develop novel functional soft materials, artificial enzymes, and strategies to enhance colloidal stability. A key challenge in her work involves orchestrating colloidal self-assembly with remote cues such as light and temperature.

Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on antifreeze proteins, colloidal assembly, and nanoparticle technology, with significant contributions to understanding ice-binding mechanisms and developing novel soft materials. The research demonstrates consistent high-impact output across prestigious journals including PNAS, Angewandte Chemie, and Biomacromolecules.

• Ambizione Award (2010): Recognizing early-career research excellence
• DMS Science and Technology Award (2009): For significant contributions to materials science
• ERC Consolidator Grant (2021): Supporting advanced research in ice-binding protein-polymers
• Ice-binding protein-polymers project (2016): Focused on control over ice growth in soft materials
• Innovative peptide system award (2019): For novel drug targeting approaches

Professor Voets supervises numerous research projects and students, teaching courses including Biological Physics, Physical Chemistry, and Experimental Soft Matter. Her research group is affiliated with the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven Polymer Laboratories, and the Gravity Program Functional Molecular Systems. Industry collaborations include DSM, Kemetyl, and Unilever, demonstrating the practical applications of her fundamental research. Her work contributes significantly to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to responsible consumption, climate action, and life below water.