Pepijn G. Moerman

Pepijn G. Moerman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). He leads the Self-Organizing Soft Matter Lab, focusing on developing biomimetic systems using DNA nanotechnology to study cell-cell communication and self-organization. His work bridges soft matter physics and molecular biology, aiming to understand tissue formation and design smart materials mimicking life-like behaviors.

Education:

• Doctorate in Physical Chemistry (2015–2019), Utrecht University, specializing in active droplet dynamics and colloidal systems.
• Postdoctoral research (2019–2021) at Johns Hopkins University, exploring ATP-driven DNA reactions.

Research Interests: Active soft matter, biomimetic cell mimics, self-assembly mechanisms, and quantitative comparisons of experiments with theoretical models. His group employs DNA nanotechnology to systematically manipulate parameters in model systems and observe emergent behaviors.

Awards:

• Recipient of the prestigious NWO Veni Grant (2023) for innovative research in soft matter systems.

Teaching & Outreach: Teaches courses including Experimental Soft Matter, Physical Chemistry 2, and Polymer and Colloid Science. Engages in public communication through media coverage of his grants and research.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Self-Organizing Soft Matter Lab, collaborating on projects involving non-reciprocal active droplet systems and lipid bilayer dynamics.