Dr. Roel Tempelaar

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Roel Tempelaar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University. He obtained his B.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands in 2009 and 2015, respectively. His research focuses on unraveling the quantum mechanics that dictate the optical dynamical properties of biologically relevant emerging materials. His work deals with the complex interactions among a multitude of components including electrons, nuclei, and optical modes that result in seemingly nontrivial behaviors based on known fundamental principles. He explores examples such as light-to-energy conversion in photosynthesis and charge interactions in semiconducting atomic monolayers. Tempelaar develops new numerical and analytical tools to make these behaviors comprehensible, advancing the fundamental understanding of chemistry and physics at the nanoscale. He encourages collaborations with experimentalists, particularly in applying optical techniques to study dynamical phenomena in real-time. In his group, students gain a deep understanding of quantum mechanics, algebraic tools, data analysis, and programming.

Research Interests

Awards

#2017

Postdoctoral Fellowship

#2016

Rubicon Grant

#2010

Huygens Scholarship Programme

Requirements for Northwestern University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume/CV
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Standard PhD requirements for TGS departments including Chemistry, Physics, and Sociology.