This thesis focused on the exploration of monolayer graphene as a membrane in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications, with improvements achieved through plasma exposure or damage- free chemical functionalization.

Promotor: Prof.dr. A.G.G.M. Tielens, Prof.dr. C. Dominik (UvA)

A new type of tripodal squaramide-based supramolecular hydrogels is developed and studied.

Molecular complexes can be used as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction, water oxidation, and/or hydrogen peroxide production.

Humans share meaning through language. Over time, repeated interactions have shaped languages into forms that match our cognitive preferences, making them structured, expressive, easy to learn, and ultimately, meaningful.

In this thesis we have discussed several parameters that affect the electrochemical conversion of enviromentaly harmful molecules such as nitrates and carbon dioxide to more valuable and less deleterious compounds, in order to cast light onto the mechanism of the reaction to achieve an efficient and…

Promotor: M. Ubbink, Co-Promotor: R. T. Dame

This dissertation is part of a broader research project that revolves around unraveling the evolution of balanced lethal systems.

In photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT), a biologically active compound is caged by a light-cleavable protecting group.

BlaC is the β-lactamase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We show that it can recover from inhibition by clavulanic acid and that phosphate helps it do so.

The main goal of this thesis is to achieve advanced control of binding properties in bis-pyrrolic and macrocyclic pyrrolic receptors by light.

With an emphasis on developing novel miktoarm star polymers termed PeptoMiktoStars, this thesis leverages asymmetric polymeric polypept(o)ide frameworks to advance their effectiveness in delivering hydrophobic drugs and nucleic acids.

The aim of this thesis was to study phage infection in Streptomyces, focused on cell wall-deficient cells. Bacteriophages (or phages in short) attach to the cell wall of bacteria after which they replicate and lyse the host cell.

Promotor: Prof.dr. J.N. Kok, Co-promotor: F.J. Verbeek

Despite being the second largest transmembrane protein family after GPCRs, the SLC superfamily has only gained significant attention in early drug development over the past decade.

Promotor: W.Th.F. den Hollander, Co-promotor: F.R. Nardi

Almost all bacteria are enveloped by a cell wall that provides cellular protection.

In the past decade many population studies have been performed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to understand the bulk properties of protoplanetary disks around young stars. These population studies mostly consisted of low mass stars, with relatively few of the disks around…

The work in this thesis describes the fundamental role of Lkb1 as a conductor of metabolism-related processes in zebrafish larvae.

In this thesis, we have studied cell images from two types of cells, including pollen grains and the immune cells, neutrophils. These images are captured using a bright field microscope and a confocal microscope.

A structural investigation of coiled coil peptides used as membrane fusogens, mimicing naturally occuring coiled-coil fusion proteins. Synthetic modifications have been made to alter lipid attachment, secondary structure and to insert photoactive azobenzene moieties for active control over coiled coil…

Soil biodiversity is of great importance for the maintenance of multifunctionality in terrestrial ecosystems.

Promotor: B. van de Water, Co-promotor: E.H.J. Danen

Carbohydrates, alongside proteins and nucleic acids, constitute a crucial and versatile family of biomolecules present in all life forms. They manifest as monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides, covalently bonded to proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are integral to plant and arthropod…

The research group Science Communication and Society aims to understand how science communication works to improve the interaction between science and society. Central themes are ‘Bridging the gap between experts and the general public’ and ‘Evaluating Science Communication’.

One of the major limitations in culturing complex tissues or organs is the lack of vascularization in the cultured tissue. Development of a functional capillary bed could overcome this problem.

When a star is born in our Galaxy, it is quite likely that it has formed within a massive cluster, which hosts numerous high-mass stars bathing their lower mass neighbours in UV radiation.

Promotor: Prof.dr. H.V.J. Linnartz

Plastics are an intrinsic part of our society. Annually, 400Mt of plastics are produced of which roughly 40% is discarded within a year.

Search and conversational systems have become central to how people access information and perform tasks.

In this thesis, we have used numerical approaches to study the effects of translational symmetry breaking on strange metallic systems as realised by the holographic duality⁠.

Hoe kunnen we de ontwikkeling van softwareprojecten voor de overheid nog verder stroomlijnen? Daar gaan de Universiteit Leiden en ICTU samen onderzoek naar doen in een project dat op 6 juli 2016 van start ging.

In 2016 trad in de EU de Algemene verordening gegevensbescherming (AVG) in werking, die voorziet in standaarden voor de verwerking van persoonsgegevens door bedrijven en overheidsinstanties. Promovendus Helena Ursic-Vrabec onderzocht de werking van deze wet.

Coffeeshopvergunningen mogen tijdelijk worden afgegeven en na deze periode opnieuw worden verstrekt. Dat blijkt uit een uitspraak van de Afdeling bestuursrechtspraak van de Raad van State in het hoger beroep dat de burgemeester van de gemeente Roermond had ingesteld tegen de uitspraak van de rechtbank…

In de toekomst gaan de Nederlandse topschaatsers misschien nog wel harder schaatsen dankzij een schaats vol elektronica. Deze meetschaats geeft topschaatsers en coaches informatie over de techniek van de schaatsbeweging. Het krachtenspel tussen de voet, het ijs en de schaats kan ermee worden gemeten…

We explored the Universe using weak gravitational lensing, a phenomenon that occurs when light from distant galaxies is bent by the gravitational fields of closer cosmic objects, much like how a lens distorts light.

Studievoorlichting

Hersenscans, hartaanvallen en kredietscores: veel wetenschap draait om data. Maar hoe kom je van een berg data tot een bruikbaar inzicht? In een Bachelor Honours Class ontdekken studenten wat datawetenschap voor hun vakgebied kan betekenen.

Op 16 mei 2018 organiseerde de juridische faculteit van de Universiteit Basel een workshop over Law & Robots, getiteld: Predictive Analytics bei Versicherungen und in der Arbeitswelt: Diskriminierung durch Algorithmen? (Predictive Analytics in Insurance and Labor: Discrimination by Algorithms?). Tijdens…

The challenge of achieving fast quantification in metabolomics is the presence of severe matrix effects during the MS analysis of complex samples.

How should jurisdictions, both on the national and on the supra-national level, handle the interaction between public and private law where it regards the regulation of financial markets?

Voedselgewassen worden calorierijker, minder voedzaam en mogelijk ook giftiger door de toename van CO2 in de atmosfeer.

Hoe beïnvloedt ICT de samenleving? Die vraag intrigeert Mirjam van Reisen, hoogleraar Computing for Society bij het Leiden Centre of Data Science. We praten met haar over innovatie, veranderende gezondheidszorg en door ICT gefaciliteerde mensenhandel. ‘Innovatie brengt veel goeds, maar kan ook heel…

Het wordt steeds gebruikelijker om langs digitale wegen data van kinderen en jongeren te vergaren. De impact van ‘dataveillance’ op kinderen, die vanaf hun geboorte worden gemonitord via smartphones en Fitbits, is groot.

Kinderen met gehoorverlies missen vaak de nuances in emotionele reacties van anderen. Hierdoor begrijpen ze soms niet goed wat er aan de hand is. Meer kennis van emoties en sociale regels kan hen helpen in de dagelijkse contacten. Dat constateert de Leidse promovendus Yung-Ting Tsou. Promotie op 11…

Hoogleraar rechtssociologie Maartje van der Woude was te gast bij Spraakmakers van NPO Radio 1 om te praten over meer grenshekken op de buitengrenzen van Europa en het nut ervan. Zij was ook te gast bij Vroeg! om de rechtzaak over etnisch profileren te bespreken.