Ben Feringa Autograph

Profession:
(1951-) Dutch synthetic organic chemist

Year of Birth: 1951

Ben Feringa is a Dutch chemist and Nobel laureate who was born on May 18, 1951, in Barger-Compascuum, Netherlands. He is renowned for his groundbreaking work in the field of molecular nanotechnology and for being one of the pioneers of the field.

Feringa completed his undergraduate studies in chemistry at the University of Groningen in 1974, and continued his education at the same institution, earning his Ph.D. degree in 1978. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, before returning to the Netherlands to join the faculty of the University of Groningen as a lecturer in 1984.

Throughout his career, Feringa has made significant contributions to the development of molecular machines and motors. In 1999, he achieved a major breakthrough when he synthesized the world's first molecular motor, a minute synthetic molecule capable of rotating continuously in one direction under the influence of light. This pioneering work laid the foundation for the field of nanomachines and opened up new possibilities in various fields, including drug delivery and nanorobotics.

In recognition of his groundbreaking research, Feringa was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, jointly with Jean-Pierre Sauvage and Sir Fraser Stoddart, for their design and synthesis of molecular machines. His innovative work has revolutionized the field of chemistry and has paved the way for the development of more advanced and sophisticated nanotechnology.

Aside from his Nobel Prize, Feringa has received numerous other accolades and honors throughout his career, including the Spinoza Prize, a prestigious Dutch science award, in 2004. He is also a member of various scientific academies, including the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Ben Feringa continues to make significant contributions to the field of nanotechnology and molecular machines through his research, and he is widely regarded as one of the leading figures in the field. His work has not only expanded our understanding of molecular machines but also opened up exciting possibilities for future scientific advancements and applications.