Pascal Vermeeren
Assistant Professor
Pascal Vermeeren is assistant professor of Theoretical Chemistry since 2022. Vermeeren’s research focuses on understanding the principles that drive and control chemical bonding and reactivity on surfaces, by using state-of-the-art quantum chemical calculations. His research covers three themes: (i) single-atom catalysis of thermal and electrochemical reactions; (ii) decoding the underlying physical mechanism when transitioning from homogeneous to heterogeneous catalysis; and (iii) understanding the driving force behind on-surface self-assembly of supramolecular polymers. A key aspect of his research is the development of powerful and robust chemical models, based on Kohn-Sham (periodic) density functional theory, to effectively analyze these processes.
As chair of the Outreach Committee of the Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical, Vermeeren is dedicated to educating aspiring students on the central role of chemistry, particularly theoretical chemistry, in tackling major societal challenges. To achieve this goal, he received an outreach grant for his project “Digital Chemistry: The Chemistry of the Future”. This project aims to develop a teaching module Digital Chemistry featuring, among others, digital demonstration experiments for high schools to bring various chemistry concepts to life.
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Curriculum Vitae
2023–present Outreach Committee of the Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences – Chair
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
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2022–present Assistant Professor (Universitair Docent)
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2022 Postdoctoral Researcher
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Topics: Chemical Bonding and Reaction Mechanisms
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. F. M. Bickelhaupt and Dr. T. A. Hamlin
2017–2022 Ph.D. in Theoretical Chemistry (Cum Laude)
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Title: (Astro)Chemistry: From Molecules to Reactions
Promotor: Prof. Dr. F. M. Bickelhaupt; Co-promotor: Dr. T. A. Hamlin
2017–2020 Research Fellow
Universiteit Utrecht
Topic: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Adsorption on an Iron Oxide Surface
Supervisor: Dr. I. Swart
2015–2017 M.Sc. in Chemistry
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam / Universiteit van Amsterdam
Track: Molecular Sciences
2012–2015 B.Sc. in Chemistry
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam / Universiteit van Amsterdam
Awards and Memberships
2025 Guest Editor Special Collection ChemPlusChem
Topic: From Computer to Bench and Back: In Silico Elucidation of Organocatalytic Reaction Mechanisms
2024 Member European Committee for Chemical Bonding (ECCB)
2024 KNCV-CTC PhD Thesis Award 2024
Best PhD Thesis in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry
2024 Bètadecanen Outreach Funding
Project: Digitale Chemie: de Scheikunde van de Toekomst
2024 Startersbeurs for new Assistant Professors
Project: Single-Atom Catalysis for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction: From Model Development to Design Principles
2023 University Teaching Qualification (UTQ)
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2023 Computing Time on National Computer Facilities (co-applicant)
Project: Quantum Theoretical Chemistry
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2021 Best Poster Prize CHAINS 2021
Category: Chemical Conversion
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2020 HRSMC PhD Mobility Programme
Project: Rational Design of Metallylene Catalysts for Hydrogenation Reactions
Host: Prof. Dr. Henry F. Schaefer III and Prof. Dr. Steven E. Wheeler, University of Georgia
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2019 Member Royal Netherlands Chemistry Society (KNCV) – Computational and Theoretical Chemistry (CTC)
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2019 Member Royal Netherlands Chemistry Society (KNCV)
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2017 Wiley Outstanding Poster Award FemEx 2017
Organizational Experience
2023 Member Organizing Committee
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Scientific Conference ESOR2023
2022 Member Organizing Committee
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Scientific Conference CBOND2022 online
2021 Member Organizing Committee
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Scientific Conference ESOR2021 online
2020 Member Organizing Committee
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Scientific Conference CBOND2020
2019 Member Organizing Committee
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Scientific Conference HBOND2019
2018–2021 Member Organizing Committee
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam / Universiteit van Amsterdam / Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
Dutch Astrochemistry Network Students and Postdocs (DANS) Meetings
Key Publications
P. Vermeeren, S. C. C. van der Lubbe, C. Fonseca Guerra, F. M. Bickelhaupt, T. A. Hamlin
Understanding Chemical Reactivity using the Activation strain model
P. Vermeeren, T. A. Hamlin, I. Fernández, F. M. Bickelhaupt
How Lewis Acids Catalyze Diels-Alder reactions
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 6201
P. Vermeeren, T. A. Hamlin, F. M. Bickelhaupt
Chemical Reactivity from an Activation Strain Perspective
P. Vermeeren, W.-J. van Zeist, T. A. Hamlin, C. Fonseca Guerra, F. M. Bickelhaupt
Not Carbon s–p Hybridization, but Coordination Number Determines C–H and C–C Bond Length
P. Vermeeren, F. M. Bickelhaupt
The Abnormally Long and Weak Methylidyne C–H Bond
For all publications of Pascal Vermeeren, see Research portal or Web of Science page
Teaching
B.Sc. and (Pre-)M.Sc. Chemistry:
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Chemical Bonding
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Quantum Chemistry & Modelling
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Advanced Molecular Orbital Theory
B.Sc. Pharmaceutical Sciences:
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Klassieke Mechanica en Thermodynamica
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Fysische Farmcochemie
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Computational(Pharmaco)Chemistry
B.Sc. Science, Business, and Innovation:
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Fysica: Mechanica