Wouter Ellenbroek

Wouter Ellenbroek is an Assistant Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Department of Applied Physics and Science Education, and a member of the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems. He leads the 'Responsive Soft Matter' research group and is affiliated with the Soft Matter and Biological Physics group and ICMS Core.

Ellenbroek obtained his MSc in Theoretical Physics from Radboud University Nijmegen in 2003, followed by a PhD at Leiden University where he studied the mechanics and statistics of granular media. After a three-year postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania's Soft Matter Theory group, he joined TU/e in 2010 as a postdoc funded by an NWO Veni grant. He became Assistant Professor in 2013 and was tenured in 2016.

His research focuses on the physical foundations of novel high-tech materials that respond to mechanical stimuli or other environmental changes. Taking inspiration from natural materials, he investigates molecular mechanisms to develop new materials with applications in elastomers, gels, vitrimers, and biocompatible hydrogels. Ellenbroek has broad expertise across soft matter physics subfields including colloids, granular media, and biological materials, and frequently collaborates with researchers in chemistry, biomedical engineering, and mechanical engineering. His work involves developing advanced computer simulations and novel methods for extracting information from large datasets, with the overarching goal of creating materials that match the sophistication of those developed by nature.

His scientific achievements have been recognized with several awards:

• NWO Veni grant
• Herbert Callen Memorial Prize (2010)

Ellenbroek teaches multiple courses including Electromagnetism, Physical Modelling and Simulation, Polymer Physics, and Soft Matter Physics. His research group employs interdisciplinary approaches to develop innovative experimental techniques and materials for new applications, bridging fundamental physics with practical engineering challenges.