Testimonials

Nynke Dekker

‘Connecting and predicting’

“I am a physicist who is very much interested in biological systems. The two disciplines are interconnected. In the past few decades, biology has seen a tremendous increase in possibilities in the area of molecules and cells. Small biological materials are becoming increasingly pure and easier to handle. For a physicist who wants to simplify complex matters, this is of course extremely interesting. With the knowledge we have of a few molecules and their exact behaviour, we can distil general principles. If you can understand and predict how biological processes work, this may lead to new applications.

Unfortunately, I no longer have the time to do hands-on laboratory research. Teaching commitments, meetings and team management responsibilities consume a lot of time. Just spending a few hours in a laboratory makes little sense. What does work however, is taking a sabbatical every now and then. I use this valuable time to visit the laboratories of fellow researchers. The know-how we obtain during these visits we can then apply to the world of single molecules.

In our research, we make use of fine-mechanical instruments and lasers. The good thing about ALT is that they supply products in both areas, so we can be sure that they are attuned to each other. 


For further information about the Kavli Institute of NanoScience and Nynke Dekker's Lab, click on the Website.