Thom Palstra, who is currently a professor at the University of Groningen, has had a long career as a scientist. The domain of his research is chemistry, physics and nanotechnology. He received his doctorate at the University of Leiden and he has worked at the University of Groningen since 1996. On top receiving a number of scientific awards and prizes, Palstra has been a member of KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and, for instance, the Hollandsche Academie der Wetenschappen (Dutch Academy of Sciences). We can also mention that Palstra now holds the position of the scientific director of the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials in Groningen or that he has been chosen as a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
'I see the University of Twente as a young, vibrant university with a strong international reputation,' says Professor Palstra about his soon-to-be professional home. 'I look forward to working together with the students and staff on further development of this university.'