Marc Koper is a distinguished physical electrochemist and leading authority in the field of electrocatalysis and surface chemistry. He currently holds the position of Professor of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry at Leiden University, where he has maintained an active and influential research group since 2005. Born in Soest, Netherlands on May 5, 1967, Koper completed his master's degree in electrochemistry at Utrecht University in 1991, receiving the prestigious Unilever Research Prize for his thesis work. After earning his PhD cum laude from Utrecht University in 1994 on far-from-equilibrium phenomena in electrochemical systems, he pursued postdoctoral research as a Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Ulm before returning to the Netherlands as a KNAW Fellow at Eindhoven University of Technology.
Professor Koper's groundbreaking research has fundamentally advanced the understanding of electrochemical reaction mechanisms and electrocatalysis, with particular focus on sustainable energy conversion processes. His work on steering and catalyzing redox reactions has provided critical insights for developing CO2-neutral energy solutions, including water oxidation and CO2 reduction technologies. Combining experimental, theoretical, and catalyst design principles, his research group has made significant contributions to fundamental surface science that have practical applications in renewable energy systems. His influential publications in high-impact journals such as Nature Catalysis have established him as a world leader in the field, with his 2022 paper on kinetic descriptors for oxygen reduction kinetics representing a major conceptual advance.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Koper has significantly shaped the field through his editorial role at the Journal of Catalysis and his leadership in international research collaborations. His receipt of the Spinoza Prize in 2021, often referred to as the 'Dutch Nobel Prize,' recognized both his scientific excellence and his role in training the next generation of researchers. As editor of the Journal of Catalysis, he continues to influence the direction of research in his field and maintain high standards of scientific rigor. Currently leading a highly productive research group at Leiden University, Professor Koper remains at the forefront of efforts to develop electrochemical solutions for sustainable energy and chemistry, with his work increasingly focused on addressing global challenges related to carbon neutrality and renewable energy storage.
