Professor Evert Jan Baerends is a preeminent Dutch theoretical chemist whose foundational work has shaped modern computational quantum chemistry. Born on September 17, 1945, in Voorst, the Netherlands, he earned his PhD at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam under Professor Pieter Ros before establishing himself as a leading figure in theoretical chemistry. He served as Professor of Theoretical Chemistry at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for decades, leading the department's theoretical chemistry research group and mentoring generations of computational scientists. Following his retirement from the Dutch university system, Baerends extended his academic influence internationally as a lecturer at Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea, demonstrating his enduring commitment to advancing quantum chemical methodologies across global scientific communities.
Baerends is internationally renowned for his pioneering contributions to density functional theory, which revolutionized computational approaches to electronic structure calculations across chemistry and physics. His extensive research program directly led to the development of the Amsterdam Density Functional, a widely adopted computational chemistry software package that transformed how scientists model molecular systems and chemical reactions with unprecedented accuracy. With over 97,000 citations to his name, his theoretical frameworks have had profound impact across multiple disciplines including materials science, catalysis, and condensed matter physics. The significance of his work was formally recognized when he received the prestigious Schrödinger Medal from the World Association of Theoretical and Computational Chemists in 2010 for his groundbreaking contributions to computational density functional methods.
Beyond his technical innovations, Baerends has profoundly shaped the field through his leadership and scholarly influence, establishing himself as a central figure in theoretical chemistry for over four decades. His election to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2004 and membership in the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science underscore his standing as a thought leader whose work continues to define research directions worldwide. In 2019, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Girona, highlighting the sustained relevance of his contributions decades after his initial breakthroughs. Professor Baerends remains an influential figure whose theoretical frameworks continue to underpin modern computational chemistry approaches, with his methodologies forming the essential foundation for countless research projects across the global scientific enterprise.
