Sven Askes

Dr. Sven Askes is an Assistant Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the PhotoConversion Materials (PCM) section, part of the Faculty of Science. He leads a research group focused on nanophotonics, materials science, and heterogeneous catalysis. His work addresses energy flow at the nanoscale, developing novel materials for green chemistry and clean energy through advanced nanofabrication, ultrafast spectroscopy, and computational modeling.

Education & Career:

• PhD in Chemistry (cum laude) from Leiden University (2016)
• Postdoctoral research at Friedrich Schiller University Jena (2017) and AMOLF (2017-2019)
• Joined Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2021, promoted to Assistant Professor in 2023
• Teaches Mechanical Engineering at the joint program with University of Twente

Research Focus:

• Pulsed Photothermal Catalysis: Uses light pulses to generate localized heat for precise catalytic control
• Project PolyPulse: Revolutionizing plastic recycling via light-driven pyrolysis
• ERC Starting Grant (2023): Funded research on redefining chemical reactor heating

His interdisciplinary approach combines photothermal catalysis, Raman spectroscopy, and computational modeling to enhance catalytic efficiency and sustainability.

Awards & Grants:

• ERC Starting Grant (€1.5M, 2023)
• National Growth Fund Grant (€600k, 2024)
• NWO VENI & XS Grants (2019)
• HRSMC Dick Stufkens Prize for Best PhD Thesis (2019)

Labs & Teams: Leads the Nanoscale Photothermal Processes Lab, collaborating with TU Eindhoven and industry partners (e.g., Veridis) on projects like CircularPlasticsNL. Active in organizing scientific events like the 2024 Lorentz Workshop on Dynamic Catalysis.