Gerard Meijer
Gerardus Johannes Maria Meijer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Zeddam, Netherlands |
| Occupation | Physicist |
| Known for | Contributions to molecular physics, Stark deceleration, laser-driven spectroscopy |
Gerardus Johannes Maria Meijer (born 1962 in Zeddam), frequently cited as Gerard J. M. Meijer, is a prominent Dutch physicist recognized for his contributions to molecular physics, especially in the areas of laser-driven spectroscopic techniques and the manipulation of cold molecules. His research team pioneered Stark deceleration, a method that exploits the Stark effect to produce controlled cold molecular beams.
Education and career
Beginning his physics studies at Radboud University in 1980, Meijer obtained his diploma in 1985 and completed his doctorate in 1988 under the supervision of Antoni Dymanus and Peter Andresen. He subsequently undertook postdoctoral research at IBM Research in San Jose, California, focusing on laser desorption mass spectrometry, optical spectroscopy, and investigations involving fullerenes. Upon returning to Radboud University as a lecturer, he advanced research efforts in cavity ring-down spectroscopy and fullerene crystal studies.
In 1995, Meijer was appointed Full Professor of Experimental Physics at Radboud University, where his research emphasized laser-based spectroscopic approaches and cold molecule physics, including experiments utilizing IR-FEL (FELIX) radiation.
He assumed the role of Director at the FOM Institute for Plasma Physics "Rijnhuizen" in Nieuwegein in 2000, continuing his work on cold molecules and FELIX-related projects. By 2002, Meijer took on the directorship of the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin, broadening his investigations into gas-phase molecular physics, clusters, and biomolecular systems. In 2012, he was appointed an External Scientific Member of the Fritz Haber Institute and became President of Radboud University's Executive Board. From 2017 onward, he resumed leadership as Director at the Fritz Haber Institute.
Honors and awards
Throughout his career, Meijer has received numerous distinguished accolades for his achievements in molecular physics. These include the van't Hoff Prize awarded by the German Bunsen Society in 2012 and the Bourke Award granted by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2009. He was named a corresponding member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2004 and was inducted into the Academia Europaea in 2013.