prof. dr. S. (Steven) Hoekstra

 Main Research Interests

Cold molecules, precision experiments, laser physics, trapping of single atoms and molecules, table-top particle physics

Recently obtained funding:

• NWO-XL grant 2022, for our RUG/Nikhef/VU/UvA consortium. I am principal investigator, in this joint  effort with Rick Bethlem, Anastasia Borschevsky, Rob Timmermans, Wim Ubachs, Jordy de Vries and Lorenz Willmann, 'Using cold molecules to search for fundamental asymmetry'
• NWO M2 grant 2022, with Anastasia Borschevsky, 'Probing Particle Physics with Polyatomic molecules'
• NWO VICI personal grant 2022, 'Searching for missing antimatter with trapped molecules'
• National Science Agenda Startimpuls 2017 'Optical sensing of vibrations and earthquakes', co-PI with G. Palazantzas, K. Jungmann, E. Pallante, C. van der Wal, L. Willmann, D. van Oosten, P. van der Straten, H. Wörtche, E. Domnitch, D. Gelfand, Läslo Evers.
• FOM Nikhef/VSI/VU joint program dec 2016, 'Physics beyond the Standard Model with cold molecules', Program leader, seven applicants (R. Bethlem, A. Borschevsky, S. Hoekstra, K. Jungmann, R. Timmermans, W. Ubachs, L. Willmann)
• NWO VIDI 2013, 'A cold trap for dark matter'
• FOM Projectruimte 2011, 'Ultracold Molecules reflecting broken symmetry', single applicant S.Hoekstra
• FOM KVI/VU Joint program 2011, 'Broken mirrors and drifting constants', eight applicants (H. Bethlem, K. Eikema, R. Hoekstra, S. Hoekstra, K. Jungmann, W.Ubachs, W. Vassen, L. Willmann)

Scientific CV

• Full Professor of Experimental Quantum Physics, University of Groningen (01/2025 - present)
• Associate professor, Cold molecules and precision tests of fundamental physics, University of Groningen, (06/2015 - 12/2024)
• Assistant professor, Manipulation of the motion and quantum state of neutral molecules in external fields, University of Groningen (11/2009-05/2015)
• Group leader, Magnetic and electrostatic trapping of molecules,  Fritz-Haber Institut, Berlin (01/2008 - 11/2009)
• Postdoc, Stark deceleration and trapping of molecules,  Fritz-Haber Institut, Berlin (05/2005 - 12/2007)
• PhD, Laser cooling of calcium atoms, University of Groningen (2005) 

Personal information

Date of birth: 04 september 1975, Groningen, The Netherlands