It's a Material World

In this C2W | Mens & Molecule Special Edition we take a deep dive into the world of the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) at Eindhoven University of Technology.

ICMS is a unique breeding ground for collaboration and innovation. Despite their limited budget, ICMS thrives as a lively community of hundreds of researchers and students united by curiosity and purpose. Their secret? According to scientific director Jan van Hest, it’s all about intrinsic motivation, openness, and the power of true multidisciplinarity.

Features

Putting the ‘Super’ into advanced microscopy

2025-12-12T11:30:00+00:00 Martijn Boerkamp

Super Resolution Microscopy opened our eyes to biological processes on scales previously hidden from view. At ICMS, researchers keep pushing the limits of SRM and expanding the technique’s possibilities. For those who think this is just another lab tool, think again. The ICMS infrastructure for research and innovation makes sure it’s finding its way into real life applications.

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Adaptive materials keep you guessing
With their research into adaptive materials, ICMS-researchers want to bring science fiction-like materials to life. ‘We cannot yet grasp every possibility.’
The scientist’s eyes
Studying nanostructures at near-atomic resolution is the bread and butter of the ICMS Center for Multiscale Electron Microscopy. Here, Heiner Friedrich and his team are continuously improving these already advanced techniques to provide an even more accurate view with minimal noise and high throughput.
Injecting biology into computing
When it comes the bio-inspired materials for computing, the possibilities are endless. ICMS members Tom de Greef and Yoeri van de Burgt are on the forefront of developing new materials for data storage and processing.

Photo Chemistry

Festive fibers

2025-12-15T13:32:00+00:00 Esther Thole

To really appreciate the beauty of materials, you need to descend all the way down to the microscopic level. But once you’re there, a whole new world emerges filled with wonderous structures like these stunning fibers.

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Community

Open doors and shared labs

2025-12-15T13:40:00+00:00 Marga van Zundert

Research at the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems requires input from multiple disciplines. Therefore, knowledge exchange and collaboration are a top priority. Connecting people and multidisciplinary projects are essentials. Daily practice teaches that meetings at the central coffee machine are as important for science, as is a warm ‘we culture’.

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‘Breakthroughs in science emerge bottom-up’
Multidisciplinary research is one those buzzwords that pop up everywhere. But creating an environment where scientists are eager to share their expertise requires more than mere lip service, says ICMS scientific director Jan van Hest. ‘Multidisciplinarity is not just a box to be ticked, but it is an absolute prerequisite ...
The matchmaking concierge
Creating a stimulating, mutually beneficial interaction between science and industry is the priority of the ICMS Industrial Consortium. ‘We try to meet the needs of all participants: ICMS, university faculty, industry and start-ups.’
Silky smooth transition from bachelor to PhD
After completing two bachelor’s degrees in Spain, Cristina Izquierdo Lozano bypassed the master’s degree-route and started her PhD research at Eindhoven University of Technology. Her pursuit of new acquaintances led her to take up aerial silks.

Editorial

Wealth

2025-12-15T15:09:00+00:00 Esther Thole

While pondering the wonders of the material world, Editor-in-chief Esther Thole is immediately thrown back to an 80s classic featuring a superstar in a pink gown.

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Start-up

There’s business in sweat harvesting

2025-12-15T12:55:00+00:00 Marga van Zundert

Sweat can easily perceived as a nuisance, but start-up DXcrete is developing a device to collect as much sweat from the skin as possible. Analysis of this essential body fluid offers a non-invasive way to monitor vital organs as sweat contains many relevant biomarkers. This could result in tools that ...

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