World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Award Badge
Chemistry
Netherlands
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Chemistry

D-Index
156
Citations
92227
World Ranking
104
National Ranking
2

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Chemistry in Netherlands Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Chemistry in Netherlands Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Chemistry in Netherlands Leader Award
  • 2020 - Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom
  • 2019 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 2017 - Centenary Prize, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
  • 2016 - Nobel Prize for the design and synthesis of molecular machines
  • 2016 - Tetrahedron Prize for Creativity in Organic Chemistry or Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, Elsevier
  • 2010 - Member of Academia Europaea
  • 2009 - Chirality Medal, Società Chimica Italiana Netherlands
  • 2006 - Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 2004 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 2004 - Spinoza Prize, Dutch Research Council
  • Foreign Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Foreign Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Foreign Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Foreign Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Foreign Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Overview

Ben L. Feringa is affiliated with the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Their research spans primarily across the fields of Materials Science and Chemistry, with a significant focus on subfields including Materials Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Biomaterials, and Spectroscopy.

The main topics addressed in their work include:

  • Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry
  • Crystallization and Solubility Studies
  • Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes
  • X-ray Diffraction in Crystallography
  • Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
  • Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
  • Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials

Feringa's publication record features frequent contributions to several scientific journals and research databases, with the most prominent venues including:

  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology)
  • Journal of the American Chemical Society
  • Angewandte Chemie International Edition
  • Angewandte Chemie
  • Chemical Science

A number of recent papers exemplify the scope and impact of their research:

  • "Molecular photoswitches in aqueous environments," 2021, Chemical Society Reviews
  • "Disulfide-Mediated Reversible Polymerization toward Intrinsically Dynamic Smart Materials," 2022, Journal of the American Chemical Society
  • "Toughening a Self-Healable Supramolecular Polymer by Ionic Cluster-Enhanced Iron-Carboxylate Complexes," 2020, Angewandte Chemie International Edition
  • "Dual closed-loop chemical recycling of synthetic polymers by intrinsically reconfigurable poly(disulfides)," 2021, Matter
  • "Photoresponsive Supramolecular Polymers: From Light-Controlled Small Molecules to Smart Materials," 2022, Advanced Materials

Feringa has collaborated frequently with several researchers, including:

  • Wiktor Szymański
  • Stefano Crespi
  • Lukas Pfeifer
  • Charlotte N. Stindt
  • Wojciech Danowski

Their authorship also extends to book publications, notably:

  • "Chemistry Challenges of the 21st Century," published by World Scientific in 2023

Over the course of their career, Ben L. Feringa has been recognized with several awards and honors, including:

  • Nobel Prize in 2016 for the design and synthesis of molecular machines
  • Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom (2020)
  • Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2019)
  • Centenary Prize, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) (2017)
  • Tetrahedron Prize for Creativity in Organic Chemistry or Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, Elsevier (2016)
  • Member of Academia Europaea (2010)
  • Chirality Medal, Società Chimica Italiana, Netherlands (2009)
  • Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (2006)
  • Spinoza Prize, Dutch Research Council (2004)
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2004)
  • Foreign Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Best Publications

  • Light-driven monodirectional molecular rotor

    N. Koumura;R.W J Zijlstra;R.A.van Delden;N. Harada

  • Making molecular machines work

    Wesley R. Browne;Ben L. Feringa

  • Chiroptical Molecular Switches

    Wesley R. Browne;Ben L. Feringa

  • Reversible Photocontrol of Biological Systems by the Incorporation of Molecular Photoswitches

    Wiktor Szymanski;John M. Beierle;Hans A. V. Kistemaker;Willem A. Velema

  • Molecular machines: nanomotor rotates microscale objects.

    Rienk Eelkema;Michael M. Pollard;Javier Vicario;Nathalie Katsonis

  • Artificial molecular motors

    Salma Kassem;Thomas van Leeuwen;Anouk S. Lubbe;Miriam R. Wilson

  • Electrically driven directional motion of a four-wheeled molecule on a metal surface

    Tibor Kudernac;Nopporn Ruangsupapichat;Manfred Parschau;Beatriz Maciá

  • The Art of Building Small: From Molecular Switches to Motors (Nobel Lecture).

    Ben L. Feringa

  • Catalytic asymmetric conjugate addition and allylic alkylation with Grignard reagents.

    Syuzanna R. Harutyunyan;Tim den Hartog;Koen Geurts;Adriaan J. Minnaard

  • Molecular Switches: FERINGA:MOL.SWIT.2ED 2VOL O-BK

    Ben L. Feringa;Wesley R. Browne

  • Phosphoramidites: Privileged Ligands in Asymmetric Catalysis

    Johannes F. Teichert;Ben L. Feringa

  • One-way optoelectronic switching of photochromic molecules on gold

    Diana Dulić;S. J. van der Molen;T. Kudernac;H. T. Jonkman

  • Reversible Optical Transcription of Supramolecular Chirality into Molecular Chirality

    Jaap J.D. de Jong;Linda N. Lucas;Richard M. Kellogg;Jan H. van Esch

  • Exploring a naturally tailored small molecule for stretchable, self-healing, and adhesive supramolecular polymers

    Qi Zhang;Chen-Yu Shi;Da-Hui Qu;Yi-Tao Long

  • Emerging Targets in Photopharmacology

    Michael M. Lerch;Mickel J. Hansen;Gooitzen M. van Dam;Wiktor Szymanski;Wiktor Szymanski

  • Unidirectional molecular motor on a gold surface

    Richard A. van Delden;Matthijs K. J. ter Wiel;Michael M. Pollard;Javier Vicario

  • A light-actuated nanovalve derived from a channel protein

    Armağan Koçer;Martin Walko;Wim Meijberg;Ben L. Feringa

  • Dynamic Control of Chiral Space in a Catalytic Asymmetric Reaction Using a Molecular Motor

    Unknown

  • Design and application of self-assembled low molecular weight hydrogels

    Maaike de Loos;Ben L. Feringa;Jan H. van Esch

  • Dynamic control and amplification of molecular chirality by circular polarized light

    Nina P. M. Huck;Wolter F. Jager;Ben de Lange;Ben L. Feringa

  • Chiroptical molecular switches

    Ben L. Feringa;Nina P. M. Huck;Anne Marie Schoevaars

Frequent Co-Authors

Adriaan J. Minnaard
Adriaan J. Minnaard University of Groningen
Wesley R. Browne
Wesley R. Browne University of Groningen
Wiktor Szymanski
Wiktor Szymanski University of Groningen
Johannes G. de Vries
Johannes G. de Vries Leibniz Institute for Catalysis
Dick B. Janssen
Dick B. Janssen University of Groningen
Auke Meetsma
Auke Meetsma University of Groningen
Jan H. van Esch
Jan H. van Esch Delft University of Technology
Marc C. A. Stuart
Marc C. A. Stuart University of Groningen
Gerard Roelfes
Gerard Roelfes University of Groningen
Richard M. Kellogg
Richard M. Kellogg University of Groningen

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying Chemistry in the USA opens doors to diverse career opportunities, many of which can be pursued through specialized online degrees. For example, those interested in the healthcare industry can explore roles such as pharmaceutical sales, where understanding chemical compositions and drug interactions is critical. To learn more about potential earnings and career growth, check out pharmaceutical sales salary insights.

Another promising pathway is becoming a pharmacist, a profession that typically requires advanced education and licensure. The financial rewards can be significant, as outlined in the how to become a pharmacist salary guide, which also covers educational requirements.

For those fascinated by forensic applications of chemistry, online programs offer flexible options, like an online forensic science degree. Careers in this field often intersect with legal and medical investigations, including the role of an autopsy technician. Detailed information about this position, including compensation and educational pathways, is available at autopsy tech salary.

Pursuing these related degrees online enables students to tailor their education to meet their career goals while benefiting from the growing demand in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and forensic science sectors.

Best Scientists Citing Ben L. Feringa

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles