معرفی
Rudolf Petra is a distinguished Professor and Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics at the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen. She holds a Laurea in Physics from Università di Roma 'La Sapienza' (1987) and a PhD in Physics from Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix de Namur (1995). As Dean of Graduate Studies (2020–present) and former Director of the Groningen Graduate School of Science (2014–2018), she has significantly enhanced academic programs, boosting applications by 28% and achieving top national rankings for 7 programs. Her research focuses on materials science, surface science, and molecular rotors/switches, with over 8,820 citations and an h-index of 49. She has received prestigious awards including membership in the German National Academy of Science and Engineering and the DESCARTES Prize.
- Leadership Roles: Managed the Zernike Institute for nine years, elevating its THE materials science ranking to 4th globally and 1st in Europe.
- Education: Supervised 19 Bachelor's, 34 Master's, and 27 PhD students, notably fostering female representation in STEM.
Research Impact: Her work spans 2D materials (e.g., germanane synthesis), molecular electronics, and superconductivity. Notable contributions include nonvolatile memory devices using molecular tunneling junctions and defect analysis in MoS₂.
- Awards: Elected to multiple academies, including the European Physical Society presidency.
- Collaborations: Visiting professorships at São Paulo, Santiago, Cagliari, and Modena universities.
Labs/Teams: Leads experimental solid-state physics research at Zernike Institute, focusing on advanced materials characterization and device applications.
