# Pepijn Moerman

**Source**: https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/pepijn-moerman
**Parent**: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/bachelor-college/bachelor-chemical-engineering-and-chemistry

Assistant Professor

# Pepijn Moerman

- [PURE url](https://research.tue.nl/en/persons/pepijn-g-moerman/ "Research Portal")

##### Contact

[p.g.moerman@tue.nl](#)

[Helix-oost 2.47](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.44618,5.488216)

##### Department / Institute

[Chemical Engineering and Chemistry](https://www.tue.nl/en/our-university/departments/chemical-engineering-and-chemistry)

##### Group

[Self-Organizing Soft Matter](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/self-organizing-soft-matter)

## RESEARCH PROFILE

Pepijn Moerman is an assistant-professor in the Self-Organizing Soft Matter Lab, interested in active soft matter and biomimetic systems. His group uses methods from DNA nanotechnology to develop experimental soft matter systems that mimic cell-cell communication, adhesion, and mechanics. They answer fundamental biological questions by systematically varying parameters in these cell mimics and quantifying their effects on the system’s self-organization. With this approach, the team aims to both better understand the way cells interact to form tissues and develop smart materials that can mimic life-like behaviors. Quantitative experimentation and critical comparison to theory play a central role in this approach.

> I believe that the most fundamental insights are gained by critically comparing quantitative experiments and theory.

## ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Pepijn Moerman did his PhD in Physical Chemistry at Utrecht university. He studied the dynamics of self-propelled droplets and freely jointed colloidal particles in a joint project between Chemistry and Physics department. He did a postdoc in DNA nanotechnology at Johns Hopkins University, where he studied how ATP-dependent enzymes could be used to improve DNA-based reactions. Now, as an assistant-professor at the TU/e he combines his expertise in DNA nanotechnology and soft matter to develop experimental model systems for living matter.

## Recent Publications

- [See all publications](https://research.tue.nl/en/persons/pepijn-g-moerman//publications/)

- [### Single-lipid tracking reveals heterogeneities in the nanoscale dynamics of colloid-supported lipid bilayers

  Soft Matter

  (2025)

  Levena Gascoigne,Roderick P. Tas,Pepijn G. Moerman,Ilja K. Voets](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/661fb23c-942f-435f-b7bd-e26c8d1e72d0)
- [### Flexible interaction patches lead to building blocks with fluctuating valency

  Nature Chemistry

  (2025)

  Tine C.M. Stevens,Pepijn G. Moerman](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/b689b1fa-ed6a-44c8-955e-28219f96cb61)
- [### Self-Organized Patterns in Non-Reciprocal Active Droplet Systems

  Angewandte Chemie

  (2024)

  Yutong Liu,R. Kailasham,Pepijn G. Moerman,Aditya S. Khair,Lauren D. Zarzar](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/25eabdd5-6e26-4e9f-b0c4-4a18578c2a2b)
- [### Self-Organized Patterns in Non-Reciprocal Active Droplet Systems

  Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

  (2024)

  Yutong Liu,R. Kailasham,Pepijn G. Moerman,Aditya S. Khair,Lauren D. Zarzar](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/bf24519c-2888-4d50-b071-e2470a00ba53)
- [### Broccoli aptamer allows quantitative transcription regulation studies in vitro

  PLoS ONE

  (2024)

  Amanda van der Sijs,Thomas Visser,Pepijn Moerman,Gert Folkers,Willem Kegel](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/962d8a59-0f3e-4563-862e-1dd8aabf112e)

## Ancillary Activities

No ancillary activities