Professor Daan Frenkel stands as a preeminent figure in computational molecular science with a distinguished career spanning over five decades. He currently holds the position of Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, where he served as the 1968 Professor of Theoretical Chemistry from 2007 to 2015 and as Head of the Department of Chemistry from 2011 to 2015. Born in Amsterdam in 1948, he earned both his Masters degree in Physical Chemistry (1972) and PhD in Physical Chemistry (1977) from the University of Amsterdam, followed by postdoctoral research at UCLA. His early career included significant contributions to computational physics while associated with the Van 't Hoff laboratory for Colloid Science and the Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Science in the Netherlands.
Frenkel has pioneered innovative computational methodologies that have transformed the study of complex soft matter systems, particularly through his development of elegant Monte Carlo algorithms for free-energy calculations and simulation of chain molecules. His groundbreaking research on structural transformations in complex fluids and colloidal self-assembly has established fundamental frameworks for understanding ordering phenomena in soft materials. With well over 500 publications to his name, his work on predicting stability and kinetics in complex self-assembly processes has provided essential tools for researchers worldwide. The enduring impact of his contributions is exemplified by his influential textbook 'Understanding Molecular Simulation,' now in its 2023 edition, which remains a definitive reference for computational scientists across multiple disciplines.
Recognized with the prestigious Spinoza Prize and Boltzmann Medal, Frenkel's scientific stature is further evidenced by his election as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society and Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences. His research continues to shape the field of soft matter physics through novel techniques for computing disordered packings of jammed particles and exploring the microscopic origins of phoretic transport. As a mentor and thought leader, he has cultivated generations of computational scientists while maintaining an active research program in his emeritus position. His ongoing work on multivalent binding in biological and colloidal materials ensures his continued influence in advancing the frontiers of computational chemistry and soft matter physics for years to come.
