Physics

Specialization in Laser Sciences and Biomolecular Photonics

Lasers are used as tools for studying ultrafast processes, cooling atomic gasses, performing high resolution spectroscopy, as optical tweezer, and for noninvasive medical imaging. The master’s specialization in Laser Sciences and Biomolecular Photonics teaches you to work with these tools and apply them to address important questions in physics. You will be using the state-of-the-art laser technology available at the LaserLaB Amsterdam.

Programme outline

Students can start the Master’s specialization in Laser Sciences and Biomolecular Photonics in September or February each year.

Starting in September
The September programme begins with a compulsory course on the central theme of lasers and laser spectroscopy. In November, all students take a course on soft condensed matter and biological physics, alongside  advanced courses in their own study path (physics of life and health or atomic-molecular physics).

Starting in February
The February programme starts with a compulsory course on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and biological matter. A course on femtosecond lasers in physics and chemistry is scheduled for April. This second semester also features several electives relating to the student’s study path.

Thesis
A small literature survey and an extensive one-year research project form an essential part of the programme. Usually these projects are conducted at one of the associated research groups. Both projects conclude with a thesis and a colloquium.

Designing your own programme
This high-level academic programme is tailored to individual students' interests and centres on the interaction between research and teaching. Students design their own study programme in consultation with the programme coordinator and research supervisors, and submit it to the examination committee for approval.
A comparable Master’s track exists in chemistry. Courses from the chemistry track can be taken as part of the physics track and vice versa.

Course schedule (PDF)

Career perspectives

Graduates of the specializaton Laser Sciences and Biomolecular Photonics can apply for PhD positions all around the world or opt for a scientific career in industry or various governmental institutions. They can also join the laboratories of major international corporations (e.g. as researcher working at the R&D department of ASML) or research institutes (e.g. KNMI, SRON). 

The programme’s emphasis on analytical thinking provides an excellent foundation for a career in software development and IT, investment banking, consultancy or politics.

Students with strong writing and communication skills can go on to a career with a newspaper, magazine or science-oriented non-profit organization.

Contact

Dr. Rick Bethlem
E-mail: rick@few.vu.nl
Phone: +31 (0)20 59 87951

Current research

Below you find a list of the staff of the VU Physics Department that is involved in the master's specialization in Laser Sciences and Biomolecular Photonics, together with their research interests.  

Understanding the physics of the process of photosynthesis Photosynthesis is the process that converts the energy of solar photons into chemical energy that can be used by photosynthetic organisms to live, by us to feed ourselves or to drive cars. The process takes place in the photosynthetic membrane, which contains a multitude of chlorophyll proteins. Two ultrafast events are at the basis of photosynthesis: excitation energy transfer and charge separation, both occurring on a timescale of femtoseconds to picoseconds. My research aims to understand the physics underlying these processes.    Researcher: Prof. dr. Rienk van Grondelle Section: Biophysics E-mail: r.van.grondelle@few.vu.nl Phone: +31 (0)20 59 87930 Website: www.few.vu.nl/~rienk

Precision tests on cold molecules  The structure and symmetry of molecules make them uniquely suited for testing fundamental physics theories. My research focuses on using electric fields to gain full control over the motion of polar molecules, and utilizing that control to perform precision measurements on molecules.               Researcher: Dr. Hendrick L. Bethlem  Section: Physics of Light and Matter E-mail: rick@few.vu.nl Phone: +31 (0)20 59 87951 Website: www.few.vu.nl/~rick

Global and target analysis   Development of methodologies for modelling of high-throughput time-resolved spectroscopical data from complex molecular systems. Creation of the Problem Solving Environment Glotaranhttp://timpgui.org/ in which these methodologies can be applied in model based data analysis.      Researcher: Dr. Ivo H.M. van Stokkum Section: Biophysics E-mail: ihm.van.stokkum@few.vu.nl Phone: +31 (0)20 59 87868 Website: www.few.vu.nl/~ivo

Ultrafast physics and precision measurement Through the use of frequency comb lasers, it is now possible to completely control the electromagnetic waveform of intense and ultra-short light pulses. This has revolutionized many field of research, in particular optical frequency precision measurements, nonlinear optics, and ultrafast physics in the attosecond domain. My research combines these three topics to test fundamental theories in simple atoms and ions, probe attosecond time scale dynamics in atoms and molecules, and develop laser-based sources and imaging techniques for ultrafast X-ray imaging.       Researcher: Dr. Kjeld S.E. Eikema Section: Physics of Light and Matter E-mail: kse.eikema@few.vu.nl Phone: +31 (0)20 59 87957 Website: www.few.vu.nl/~kjeld

Cold Atoms and Quantum Gases In my group we use laser light to cool and trap helium atoms only a few microkelvin from absolute zero. A trapped Bose-Einstein condensate of  He-4 atoms and a degenerate Fermi gas of He-3 atoms are used to study macroscopic effects of quantum statistics. Precision transition frequency measurements in these ultracold clouds are used to test quantum electrodynamics. Researcher: Dr. Wim Vassen Section: Physics of Light and Matter E-mail: w.vassen@few.vu.nl Phone: +31 (0)20 59 87949 Website: www.nat.vu.nl/en/research/physics-light/Cold-atoms-and-quantum-gases/index.asp

From 100 nm to the edge of the Universe Our activity spans from the study of quantum forces to the search of dark energy fields, stretching from nanotechnology to cosmology. To face the challenges of our experiments, we are often called to come up with out-of-the-box technical solutions that then find applications also outside research laboratories. Those applications become part of our activities themselves, in a mutual fertilization between fundamental and applied physics.   Researcher: Dr. Davide Iannuzzi Section: Condensed Matter E-mail: iannuzzi@few.vu.nl Phone: +31 (0)20 59 87577 Website: www.nat.vu.nl/CondMat/iannuzzi

Single-molecule biophysics My research focuses on quantifying motion, conformation and other dynamics of biomolecules on the single-molecule level. Special focus is on kinesin motor proteins that transport cargo within our cells and the interaction of proteins with DNA. The techniques used in my lab are single-molecule fluorescence microscopy and optical tweezers.   Researcher: Dr. ir. Erwin J.G. Peterman Section: Physics of Complex Systems E-mail: ejg.peterman@few.vu.nl Phone: +31 (0)20 59 87576 Website: www.few.vu.nl/~erwinp

Molecular hydrogen and the search for a variation of the proton-electron mass ratio Our interest is in the investigation of molecular structure for which we have chosen the smallest neutral molecule, H2, as the benchmark. We perform precision measurements with lasers and at synchrotrons to test how well quantum mechanics can predict the level structure (dissociation limits, ionization potential) of molecules, but also investigate dissociation dynamics. From comparisons between accurate laboratory data of H2 lines and observation of the same lines in high-redshifted quasars we search for a possible variation of the proton-electron mass ratio on a cosmological time scale. In addition we study carbon chain molecules and Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering in the Earth atmosphere. Researcher: Prof. dr. Wim Ubachs Section: Physics of Light and Matter Email: wimu@nat.vu.nl Phone: +31 (0)20 59 87948 Website: www.nat.vu.nl/~wimu/

Physics of Life processes The aim of my research is to reveal the physics inside cells in order to quantify how life is sustained. My experimental research line includes the development of new microscopy techniques, physical systems biology, single-molecule biophysics and bionanotechnolgy. The instruments we use include optical tweezers, microfluidics, AFM and single-molecule fluorescence as well as combinations of these techniques. The data obtained are used for the development of theoretical physics models. Researcher: Prof. dr. Gijs J.L. Wuite Section: Physics of Complex Systems E-mail: gjl.wuite@few.vu.nl Phone: +31 (0)20 59 87987 Website: www.nat.vu.nl/~gwuite/

Elementary events in proteins My research focuses on electron and proton transfer reactions in proteins, and how conformational changes and signaling states are initiated. We work on several model systems, with a special focus on a light-dependent enzyme involved in biosynthesis. The techniques used in my lab are sub-picosecond absorption difference spectroscopy in the visible and midinfrared regions. Researcher:  Marloes Groot Section: Elementary events in biophysics Room: T129 Tel: 020 59 82570 Website: http://www.nat.vu.nl/en/research/physics-life-health/ElementaryEventsinBiophysics/staff/groot/index.asp