Wouter G. Ellenbroek

Wouter G. Ellenbroek is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Physics at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), affiliated with the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS). His research focuses on responsive soft materials, particularly developing novel high-tech materials inspired by natural processes. He holds an MSc in Theoretical Physics from Radboud University Nijmegen (2003) and a PhD from Leiden University (2010), where he studied granular media mechanics. His postdoctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania expanded into colloids and polymers, earning him the Herbert Callen Memorial Prize. At TU/e, he leads the Responsive Soft Matter group, exploring polymeric materials like hydrogels and vitrimers, with interdisciplinary collaborations in chemistry, biomedical, and mechanical engineering.

Ellenbroek teaches courses including Electromagnetism, Physical Modelling, and Biomolecular Simulation. He has supervised 25 students and received the NWO Veni Award (2010) for research on charged particle interactions. His work emphasizes computational methods and data-driven approaches to material design, with recent contributions to stress relaxation in hydrogels and tunable supramolecular interactions.