Promotor: P.J.J. Hooykaas, Co-Promotor: E.J. van der Zaal

This research delves into a region of space known as the interstellar medium (ISM), which is essentially the area between the stars filled with gas and dust.

The four possible segments A, T, C and G that link together to form DNA molecules, and with their ordering encode genetic information, are not only different in name, but also in their physical and chemical properties.

Carbohydrates, or sugars, are the most diverse and most abundant biomolecules known. However, the isolation of carbohydrate samples in sufficient amounts and purity is often impractical or even impossible, so the chemical synthesis of glycosides becomes relevant. The glycosylation reaction, in which…

Membrane fusion is a vital process in living organisms and is mediated by zipper-like proteins.

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,…

Assessing the risks of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) solely on the basis of experimental assays is time-consuming, resource intensive, and constrained by ethical considerations (such as the principles of the 3Rs of animal testing). The adoption of computational toxicology in this field is a high p…

Nucleoid associated proteins maintain the architecture of the bacterial chromosome and regulate gene expression, hinting that their role as transcription factors may involve local three-dimensional chromosome re-modelling.

Advanced UHF MRI techniques provide powerful tools for studying the zebrafish brain, an emerging model in neurological research. In this work, various MRI and localized MRS methods are optimized and employed for UHF strength for studying the zebrafish brain.

Ice, the solid state of water, plays an important role on our planet as well as the entire universe.Despite the fact that an individual water molecule has a very simple structure, its chemical bonding in the solid phase can be surprisingly complex.

Promotor: Jaap Brouwer, Co-promotor: Remus Th. Dame

Stars like the sun are born in large molecular clouds existing from gas and dust. During the formation process, the chemical composition of the material can be altered drastically by the changing physical conditions.

Metals surfaces form a group of effective catalysts for the reaction of small molecules such as hydrogen (H2).

With increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and their detrimental effect on the global climate, modern society needs to push for more renewable energy sources. Storing widely accessible and abundant solar energy in chemical bonds in the form of molecular fuel via artificial photosynthesis…

Solute carrier (SLC) transporters are a large and diverse class of relatively understudied transmembrane proteins.

Bacterial chemosensory arrays are protein assemblies that are the key structural and functional component for motile bacteria to sense their internal or environmental chemical signals.

The investigations described in this thesis lay out strategies aimed at advancing antibiotic research and development. The examples presented revolve around two main approaches: understanding drug-target interactions and target identification.

β-Lactamases are enzymes that can break down β-lactam substrates, such as antibiotics, preventing the use of these antibiotics for the treatment of various infectious diseases. However, some compounds, β-lactamase inhibitors, can block these enzymes allowing for possible treatments using a combination…

Promotor: Prof.dr. E. F. van Dishoeck

Single-layer graphene (SLG) has attracted considerable interest as a proton exchange membrane for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), owing to its atomic thickness, mechanical robustness, and unique proton permeability.

This dissertation presents the synthesis and evaluation of antibody recognition for various capsular polysaccharide (CP) fragments of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of the most pressing challenges that humanity faces in the coming decades.

Promotor: G.A. van der Marel, Co-promotor: J.D.C. Codée

Per 15 december 2025 is Dr. Leila Akkari benoemd tot bijzonder hoogleraar bij het Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC). Haar leerstoel met de opdracht Kanker-Immuun Interacties is gevestigd door het Nederlands Kankerinstituut (NKI), alwaar Dr. Akkari werkzaam is als onderzoeker.

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Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are a group of orphan diseases characterized by lysosomal dysfunction or impaired lysosomal catabolism and affect collectively about 1 in 5000 live births.

Microbial rhodopsins are photosensitive pigments implemented in the growth and adaptation of a large population of microorganisms.

This thesis systematically studies the physicochemical properties of non-planar, propeller-shaped, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The synthesis of several so-called propellerenes is described on a gram scale, using optimized procedures aimed at using less hazardous reagents and reducing the amount…

In this thesis, a system pharmacology approach, integrating metabolomics, pharmacology and chemical biology, was applied to understand and modulate the endocannabinoid system across different model systems (cells, zebrafish, mice and humans).

Het Natuurwetenschappelijk Gezelschap Leiden heeft haar succes mede te danken aan de diverse besturen die de lezingen, vergaderingen en activiteiten van het gezelschap hebben verzorgd.

Promotor: Prof.dr. M. Ubbink

Promotor: Prof.dr. H.S. Overkleeft

Glycoconjugate vaccines are composed of microbial poly- or oligosaccharides covalently linked to a carrier protein.

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

Promotores: Prof.dr. J. Zaanen, Prof.dr. K.E. Schalm

Promotor: M.A.G.J. Orrit

Bacteria often experience external challenges, such as changes in environmental conditions or attacks by bacteriophages.

Less than 1 in 10 drug candidates that enter phase 1 clinical trials actually gets approved for human use.

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

Promotor: Prof.dr. J.W.M. Frenken

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

The glycosylation reaction is a pivotal reaction in creating new and complex oligosaccharides.

Promotor: Prof.dr. G.J. Kroes

Promotor: G.A. van der Marel, Co-promotor: J.D.C. Codée

From surface science towards industrial practice using high-pressure scanning tunneling microscopy.

Nanodiscs are small, disc-shaped structures designed to mimic biological cell membranes, composed of a lipid bilayer stabilized by scaffold proteins. Membrane proteins play crucial roles in essential processes such as nutrient and waste transport, molecular recognition, and cell signalling, making them…

Promotor: Prof.dr. H.J.M de Groot, Co-Promotor: A. Alia