Marijn van Huis

Marijn van Huis is a Professor of Electron Microscopy of Materials at Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics. He is a staff member of the Soft Condensed Matter group within the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science. Since May 1, 2025, he has held the position of full professor, and previously served as head of the Electron Microscopy Center at Utrecht University for nine years (2015-2024). His research bridges experimental and theoretical approaches to study nanomaterials at the atomic scale.

Van Huis is an expert in both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. His research focuses on heterogeneous nanostructures with tunable physical and chemical properties, particularly how these nanoparticles undergo structural and chemical transformations when exposed to heat, light, electron beams, or various environments. He pioneered the use of in-situ TEM techniques to observe atomic-scale transformations in real time, including elevated temperature imaging with atomic resolution and Liquid Cell TEM for monitoring changes in liquids.

His publication record shows a strong trend toward studying dynamic processes in nanomaterials, with particular emphasis on 2D materials, metal oxide transformations, bimetallic systems, and perovskite structures. The research combines cutting-edge experimental techniques with theoretical simulations to establish structure-property relationships at the nanoscale.

• VENI Grant awarded by the Dutch Science Foundation NWO (2006)
• VIDI Grant awarded by the Dutch Science Foundation NWO (2012)
• ERC Consolidator Grant (NANO-INSITU) awarded by the European Research Council (2015)
• National Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Infrastructures - Netherlands Electron Microscopy Infrastructure (NEMI) (2019)

Van Huis has secured substantial research funding through competitive grants and serves on several important scientific boards, including the EMpower board of NEMI, the Dutch Society for Microscopy (NVvM), and the International Advisory Board of EMC2024. He is also an external advisor for the SHINE TEM microscope at AMOLF Amsterdam. His teaching activities include Advanced Microscopy, Experimental Research Project, and other physics courses at Utrecht University, where he holds a Senior Teaching Qualification (SKO).

As a leading researcher in the field, van Huis directs the Soft Condensed Matter group's research on nanomaterials, utilizing advanced electron microscopy infrastructure including the MEMS microheater technology he helped develop that enables atomic resolution imaging at temperatures up to 1000 K. His work is closely connected to the Netherlands Electron Microscopy Infrastructure (NEMI), where he plays a key leadership role.