Organic molecules in interstellar space are important as they influence the structure of galaxies and star formations. Studying catalytic processes in space allows us to understand how molecular species are formed and chemically evolved in the interstellar medium and solar system objects.

In astronomy, the interpration of observations and measurements plays a crucial role: we rely purely and fundamentally on the information that reaches us as observers. And 80% of all matter in the universe is undetectable directly.

One of the effects of climate change is the phenomenon of desertification, a process that occurs in semi-arid and arid areas and causes land degradation as well as vegetation loss. Due to the lack of resources, vegetation self-organizes to sustain itself by forming large-scale spatial patterns.

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium which can form biofilms, increasing its resistance against antibiotics and the host immune system. Polysaccharides are an integral part of this biofilm, one of these polysaccharides is called Psl. PslG is a glycosidase, able to cleave this polysaccharide,…

OB associations are loose groups of young, massive stars. They constitute the last stage of the massive starformation process, and the context in which new stars are formed.

Sterrenkundigen onder leiding van John Tobin hebben dankzij nieuwe waarnemingen, verricht met de Amerikaanse Very Large Array-radiotelescoop (VLA), meer inzicht verkregen in het geboorteproces van meervoudige sterren.

Eerstejaars studenten aan de Faculteit Governance and Global Affairs wegwijs maken in een sterk veranderende universitaire wereld vanwege Covid-19. Dat was het doel van het mentorproject dat sinds dit collegejaar loopt. Eind januari loopt de eerste fase af en bij de masteropleidingen stromen in februari…

Promotor: Johan Kuiper, Co-promotor: Saskia C.A. de Jager

Even though more than 4000 extra-solar planets are known today, only a small fraction of these has been captured in an image. To better understand the planet formation mechanisms in solar-like environments we started the Young Suns Exoplanet Survey (YSES).

Bacteria have the ability to alter their morphology in order to adapt to changing environments.

In this thesis, I study the formation of large-scale structure and the physics of particle acceleration at large scales (~Mpc).

The aromatic infrared bands (AIBs) seen throughout the interstellar medium (ISM) are generally thought to be carried by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitrogen analogues (PANHs).

Vast, often populated, areas in dryland ecosystems face the dangers of desertification.

This thesis focuses on amyloid proteins, a class of proteins that convert into amyloid fibrils.

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

The radio sky harbours both galactic and extragalactic sources of arcminute- to degree-scale emission of various physical origins. To discover extragalactic diffuse emission in the Cosmic Web beyond galaxy clusters, one must image low–surface brightness structures amidst a sea of brighter compact fore-…

This research focuses on the distribution of chemical elements in protoplanetary disks, the birthplaces of planets. These disks form around young stars and contain gas and dust, from which planets grow. Ice plays a crucial role in planet formation, aiding the clumping of dust particles and influencing…

Hydrocarbonylation of alkenes with carboxylic acids in synthesis of carboxylic acid anhydrides is relatively less explored. We herein present a study and optimization of a palladium-catalyzed hydrocarbonylation reaction of alkenes using carboxylic acids as the nucleophile, by which acid anhydrides can…

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common type of breast cancer.

My PhD thesis investigates the ecological significance of resistance against drought-induced air bubble formation inside the water conduits of plants (embolism), and the plasticity and functional aspects of stem anatomical traits in woody and herbaceous species.

Promotor: Prof.dr. R.M.H. Merks

In this thesis, we aimed to better understand the underlying mechanisms involved in TNBC progression and metastasis formation and discover new targets to reduce breast cancer related deaths.

This dissertation is an experimental study of laser-generated, atmospheric pressure, transient toroidal helium plasmas.

Stars and planets form within cold, dense clouds of gas and dust drifting through interstellar space. Although dust makes up only a small fraction of this material, it plays a key role in shaping the chemical evolution of these environments.

I have studied the hot, diffuse gas around and between galaxies. Specifically, I have used the EAGLE numerical simulations of galaxy formation to predict the properties of this gas, and I have used those properties to predict specific observables: soft X-ray absorption and emission lines.

When a star gets too close to a supermassive black hole, it is torn apart by strong tidal forces in a tidal disruption event (TDE).

Supramolecular polymers are class of materials that are formed by non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, electrostatic interactions and the hydrophobic effect.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.

The applications of studying the early development of insects range from agriculture to material science.

Promotores: Prof.dr. J. Kuiper, Prof.dr. P.H.A. Quax, Co-promotor: I. Bot

A key step in the synthesis of oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates is the formation of the glycosidic bond.

Betere studentbetrokkenheid en tijdsbesparingen

Marjo de Graauw, adviseur onderwijsinnovatie en docent heeft de Turnitin Global Innovation Award gewonnen voor haar grote en enthousiaste inzet voor onderwijsvernieuwing- en verbetering.

Promotor: Prof.dr. B.R. Katzy

Online peer feedback bij video-analyses van professionele vaardigheden.

Didactiek

Within this thesis the central stage is taken by the discovery and investigation of transglycosylation of sterols. First, investigation focuses on the development of a method to accurately detect and quantify glucosylated metabolites in biological materials.

In this thesis, we used genetically engineered mouse models to identify genes and pathways that are involved in ILC formation and in the development of resistance to FGFR-targeted therapy.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an important bulk chemical that is used in various industrial processes. More than 95% of the H2O2 used in industry is made via the anthraquinone process during which a large amount of energy is going to waste.

Promotor: Prof.dr. E. Bouwman, Co-promotor: S. Bonnet

3D en peer review.

As a virtually inexhaustible source, solar energy plays a major role in future global energy scenarios.

Indigenous Latin American artifacts have attracted the interest of Europeans since the earliest moment of contact between Europeans and the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. The ERC-funded BECACO project uses an innovative multidisciplinary framework to investigate the provenance of ethnographic and…

Promotores: Prof.dr. A.G.G.M. Tielens, Prof.dr. L.B.F.M. Waters (UvA), Prof.dr. C. Dominik (UvA)

This thesis is an experimental study of the UV irradiation of the interstellar ice analogues, relevant for the different stages of the star and planet formation sequence.

The thesis explores how interstellar chemistry evolves as a function of time and changing physical architectures during the formation of stars.

In this thesis, the role of plant-mediated soil legacy effects in shaping aboveground plant-insect interactions was investigated.