Peter A. van Aken

Professor Dr. Peter A. van Aken is the Director of the Stuttgart Center for Electron Microscopy (StEM) at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, advancing high-resolution electron microscopy. Under his leadership, StEM excels in scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), focused ion beam techniques, and method development. His research focuses on atomic-scale characterization of material interfaces, complex oxide heterostructures, strained semiconductors, nanostructured thin films, plasmonic nanostructures, nanoparticles, and functional molecules on 2D materials, enhancing the understanding of structure-property relationships.

Professor van Aken served as Vice President (2020–2021) and President (2022–2023) of the German Society for Electron Microscopy (DGE). Recognized globally, he was listed among Clarivate Analytics' "Highly Cited Researchers" (2018–2020). As Coordinator and Principal Investigator of the European ESTEEM3 project (2019–2023), he strengthened Europe’s electron microscopy infrastructure, integrating state-of-the-art facilities and providing transnational access to advanced atomic-scale characterization techniques. ESTEEM3 fostered interdisciplinary collaborations between academia and industry, driving innovation in materials analysis across physical, chemical, and biological sciences. Professor van Aken continues to push the frontiers of electron microscopy, delivering transformative insights into functional materials and advancing nanoscience and materials engineering.