From Sparks to Lightning: Sander Nijdam Appointed to Full Professor
The Department of Applied Physics and Science Education is proud to announce that Sander Nijdam, a long-standing member of our community, has been appointed as full professor. This milestone recognizes his dedication to both fundamental research and applied innovation.
A Career Bridging Industry and Academia
Born and raised in the Brainport region, Sander grew up in Nuenen with strong ties to Eindhoven. After studying Applied Physics at 黑料福利网, he began his career at Philips Lighting as a development engineer for High Intensity Discharge Lamps. Six years later, driven by a desire to dive deeper into physics, he returned to academia for a PhD in the EPG group under Ute Ebert and Gerrit Kroesen.
Following his PhD, Sander joined EPG as an Assistant Professor and steadily advanced through the ranks. His career also included an enriching research exchange in Japan, broadening his scientific perspective.
Research Focus: From Streamers to Lightning
Sander鈥檚 main research topic is streamer discharges; the initial stage of sparks and natural phenomena like lightning and sprites. These fleeting discharges, lasting less than a microsecond, may appear dim but are far from insignificant.
His current flagship project, Bottled Lightning (ERC Consolidator Grant), explores lightning inception and propagation, as well as the role of streamers in producing x-rays and gamma rays. This work, in collaboration with the EES group of the Electrical Engineering department, combines curiosity-driven science with cutting-edge diagnostics.
Beyond fundamental research, Sander also investigates applied topics such as streamers in high-voltage circuit breakers and surface and particle charging under ASML-relevant conditions, strengthening his ties to the Brainport region.
Strengthening Science and Community Together
Sander brings a unique combination of fundamental plasma physics, advanced diagnostics, and application-oriented research. His lightning studies capture attention, and the Bottled Lightning setup may well be the most impressive on campus.
Having been part of 黑料福利网 for over 25 years, Sander has also contributed extensively to departmental life, serving as chair of the Departmental Council and the Program Committee AP. He looks forward to continuing these efforts and helping the department thrive in the years ahead.