معرفی
Prof. dr. Willem Kegel is a Full Professor in the Department of Physical and Colloid Chemistry at Utrecht University's Faculty of Science, where he holds the chair in Self-organizing Systems. He is affiliated with the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science and has held leadership roles including Director of Education (2018–2021) and Head of the Chemistry Department (2011–2013).
Kegel earned his MSc in Chemical Thermodynamics (1989) and PhD in Physical Chemistry (1993) from Utrecht University. He conducted postdoctoral research at UCLA (1994–1996) and was a KNAW Fellow (1996–1999). Sabbaticals include Caltech (2014) and New York University (2005–2006).
His research explores soft-matter physics and biophysics, focusing on colloidal self-assembly, protein organization, transcription regulation, and statistical thermodynamics. Current projects include:
- Transcription regulation influenced by genome size
- Self-organization of building blocks with conformational switches
- Iron-phytochemical interactions for mineral delivery
- Colloidal ordering at interfaces
Kegel's publications emphasize colloidal systems, genetic circuits, and functional materials, with interdisciplinary work bridging physics, chemistry, and biology. Trends include advanced characterization of self-assembly mechanisms and biologically inspired systems.
Awards & Honors:
- NWO-VICI Grant (2004)
- KNAW Fellowship (1996–1999)
He advises PhD/Master's students and teaches courses including Physical Chemistry, Nanomaterials Science, and thesis supervision. His lab collaborates with Caltech, UCLA, and industry partners. He is a member of the Dutch Institute of Emergent Phenomena.
