Bacteria play a crucial role in our lives and are essential for the preparation and absorption of our food, the nutrient cycles and the biopharmaceutical industry. They also, however, form a growing risk as a result of increasing resistance to antibiotics. Despite this, we still know relatively little about the exact workings of bacterial cells. For a better understanding of the intimate relationship between humans and bacteria, for the further optimisation of bacteria for the purpose of industrial use, and for the efficient control of infectious diseases in future, it is vital to obtain a better insight into the way a bacterial cell functions. Leendert Hamoen investigates the molecular mechanisms of bacterial cell division and bacterial cell differentiation. Within his group, the fundamental knowledge that is acquired is used, among other things, for the development of new antimicrobial tools.

Hamoen has been working as an associate professor at the UvA since 2012. He is the coordinator of the bacterial cell biology research group. He was previously a principal research associate at Newcastle University’s Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences and Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology. Hamoen is the recipient of various research grants, including a Vici grant from the Netherlands Organisation of Scientific Research (NWO) and several Marie Curie grants.