Dr. Raoul Frese

Biography

Raoul Frese is a researcher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam specializing in biosolar cells and the biophysics of photosynthesis. He completed his studies in physics at the University of Amsterdam and earned his PhD from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, focusing on the nanoscale processes of photosynthesis. After his doctoral work, he conducted postdoctoral research at Twente University, utilizing AFM imaging techniques to study photosynthetic membranes, and received a young investigator grant from the Dutch Science Foundation. Later, Frese built his own laboratory at Leiden University to explore the research on photosynthetic reaction centers and interconnected conducting substrates. He has also worked as a research associate in the laboratory of Bob Niederman at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Currently, Frese leads a workgroup on biohybrid solar cells, investigating the integration of photosynthetic materials with conducting substrates for solar energy harvesting. His research is highly interdisciplinary, bridging biochemistry, electrochemistry, and materials science with a focus on creating innovative biological solar technologies that not only generate energy but also capture carbon dioxide, thus presenting potential environmental benefits. Frese's work is aimed at enhancing the design and efficiency of solar energy solutions while fostering collaborations across the arts and sciences.

Research Interests

Experience