NWO-M2 Grant Awarded for Research on Sustainable Polymer Glasses

A ssistant Professor Andrea Giuntoli (Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen) and Prof. Jasper van der Gucht (Wageningen University & Research) have been awarded a prestigious NWO-ENW-M2 grant for their project: “Charging up glasses: unveiling the glass transition in ionically bonded polymers.” This collaborative effort aims to revolutionize the development of sustainable polymer glasses, combining stability, damping properties, and processability.

The project explores a novel class of polymer glasses formed by charged polymers crosslinked with ionic bonds. By integrating advanced experiments and multiscale modeling, the team seeks to uncover the unique properties of these materials, ultimately designing a new generation of polymer glasses that merge the durability of traditional plastics with the processability of window glass.

The €800,000 grant will fund two PhD positions—one based in Groningen and the other in Wageningen—supporting curiosity-driven, high-impact research. The NWO-ENW-M2 program emphasizes excellence, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and this project exemplifies those values.

NWO information on M grants: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/open-competition-domain-science-m-2026/2027

More information? Contact Dr. Andrea Giuntoli