R. (Rens) Ham

Rens is developing photoactive supramolecular coordination cages for selective photoredox catalysis. Photoredox catalysis utilizes light as energy source to perform chemical reactions through radical pathways, which can be used to make organic synthesis more sustainable. However, light-induced reactivity involves short-lived excited states that are highly reactive, typically leading to side product formation and poor reaction efficiencies. Supramolecular strategies hold great promise to overcome these challenges, as they can bring together substrate and catalyst, and stabilize the highly reactive radical species. To achieve this, Rens develops photoactive supramolecular cages that can non-covalently preorganize substrates. These fundamental studies gain insight into the possible strategies that can be employed to increase photochemical reaction efficiencies. (Figure from: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202508131.)

2016-2019 Bachelor Chemistry (cum laude), University of Amsterdam and VU Amsterdam (joint degree)

2019-2021 Master Chemistry (cum laude), HRSMC Excellence programme, University of Amsterdam, VU Amsterdam, and Leiden University (joint degree)

2022-present PhD Candidate, University of Amsterdam