Archive

Studying how single DNA molecules behave helps us to better understand genetic disorders and design better drugs. Until now however, examining DNA molecules one-by-one was a slow process. Biophysicists from Delft University of Technology and Leiden University developed a technique that speeds up screening of individual DNA molecules at least a thousand times.

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded thirteen young TU Delft researchers from the Science (ENW) and Applied and Engineering Sciences (TTW) domains, a Veni grant of up to 320,000 euro.

More advanced and faster research is possible with the commissioning of the cold neutron source and the improved instruments of TU Delft Reactor Institute (RID) as of 27 June 2024. The first results of research are expected in October 2024, around the official reopening of the reactor.

On the roof of the Applied Sciences building, a beehive is supporting biodiversity on campus since 6 June. The beehive was installed on the initiative of OnderhoudsCombinatie Delft (OC1) in coordination with René Hoonhout (landscape manager at Campus Real Estate & Facility Management (CREFM)). OnderhoudsCombinatie Delft is a collaboration between Kuijpers, ULC and Hurks who jointly carry out maintenance on the Applied Sciences building.

Miriam Blaauboer has been elected Educator of the Year 2024 of the Faculty of Applied Sciences (AS). She received the award on 17 June 2024 during the faculty's annual Education Day. Here, Director of Education Chris Kleijn also announced the Educators of the Year for each programme. The seven nominated lecturers were chosen by AS students. Miriam will represent the AS faculty at Delft University of Technology's upcoming Educator of the Year election.

In the back of a cupboard at the Imaging Physics department of the Faculty of Applied Sciences (TNW) at TU Delft, a box full of interesting objects had hiding for almost thirty years. Nestled amongst prisms and scopes, was a mysterious microscope.

Did you know that solar cells typically convert only 20% of the sunlight into electrical power? That means that 80% is not utilised, leaving a large room for improvement for next generation solar cells. Researchers from Delft University of Technology developed a method to find new materials for more efficient solar cells.

A research consortium from TU Delft and Leiden University receives an NWO Summit Grant of 35 million euros, as a long-term support and to continue their prominent role internationally. They aim to investigate the fundamental limits of quantum physics. In total five consortia from different Dutch universities will receive a total of 188 million euros to strengthen the position of Dutch science.

“What is life? How does a living cell emerge from lifeless molecules?” wondered a multidisciplinary team of Dutch scientists. To answer these questions the research team, led by the TU Delft, aims to build a living synthetic cell from lifeless biomolecules, using laboratory evolution and artificial intelligence for the first time. The ten-year research programme to do so, entitled “Evolving life from non-life” or simply “EVOLF”, was awarded 40 million euro by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) as part of the Summit grants scheme.

The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) has selected Gijsje Koenderink as new KNAW member. She will join the Academy together with 16 other leading scientists. The new members will be installed on 30 September 2024.