Introduction

Molecular chemistry can play an essential role in sustainable development. Current examples include:

• efficiency increase in energy-intensive processes (such as the production of complex molecules for the pharmaceutical industry, or the synthesis of transportation fuels), by using fewer chemicals, fewer reaction steps and less energy
• cyclic chemistry, in which waste products are converted back into fuels
• introduction of renewable chemical building blocks
• understanding the fundamental molecular-level aspects of the processes above, with spectroscopic and theoretical techniques.

Excellence track within MSc Chemistry

‘Sustainability – The Molecular Approach’ is a so-called ‘excellence track’ within the Master’s programme Chemistry of three Dutch universities:

• University of Amsterdam
• VU University Amsterdam
• Leiden University

It is coordinated by the Holland Research School of Molecular Chemistry, a collaboration of top research groups at the three universities mentioned above.

Student profile

‘Sustainability – The molecular approach’ is the track for you, if you:

• have excellent study results in your (chemical) Bachelor’s programme
• have a broad interest and multidisciplinary skills in molecular chemistry
• have the ambition to proceed in a scientific career
• are up for a challenge – and possibly a PhD position.