Professor Dr Peter A. van Aken is a member of the Henry Royce Institute’s Strategic Advisory Board.
Peter heads the Stuttgart Center for Electron Microscopy (StEM) at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, advancing high-resolution electron microscopy. Under his leadership, StEM excels in scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), focused ion beam techniques, and method development. His research focuses on atomic-scale characterization of material interfaces, complex oxide heterostructures, strained semiconductors, nanostructured thin films, plasmonic nanostructures, nanoparticles, and functional molecules on 2D materials, enhancing the understanding of structure-property relationships.
He served as Vice President (2020–2021) and President (2022–2023) of the German Society for Electron Microscopy (DGE). Recognized globally, he was listed among Clarivate Analytics’ “Highly Cited Researchers” (2018–2020).
As Coordinator and Principal Investigator of the European ESTEEM3 project (2019–2023), he strengthened Europe’s electron microscopy infrastructure, integrating state-of-the-art facilities and providing transnational access to advanced atomic-scale characterization techniques. ESTEEM3 fostered interdisciplinary collaborations between academia and industry, driving innovation in materials analysis across physical, chemical, and biological sciences.
Peter continues to push the frontiers of electron microscopy, delivering transformative insights into functional materials and advancing nanoscience and materials engineering.
Professor Dr Peter A. van Aken Titles and Affiliations:
Head of the Stuttgart Center for Electron Microscopy
Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research
Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Adjunct Professor
Department of Materials and Earth Sciences, TU Darmstadt
Peter-Grünberg-Straße 2, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
Honorary Professor
Centre for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy
Department of Physics, Nelson Mandela University
University Way, Summerstrand, Gqeberha, South Africa, 6001
