# Self-Organizing Soft Matter
**Source**: https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/self-organizing-soft-matter
**Parent**: https://www.tue.nl/en/research
Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
# Self-Organizing Soft Matter
We study self-assembly processes in (biological) soft matter and translate fundamental insights into rational design strategies for novel functional soft materials.
- [Our researchers](#c244806)
- [Vacancies](#c354121)
- [Outreach and science communication](#c359208)
## Creating materials that create themselves
The research group Self-Organizing Soft Matter at Eindhoven University of Technology studies self-assembly processes in (biological) soft matter. As an interdisciplinary team of chemists, physicists, biologists, and engineers, we strive to obtain fundamental insights and translate these into rational design strategies for novel functional soft materials. We are especially interested in colloidal self-organization, polymer assembly and folding, and protein biophysics. Examples of our research include revealing the key structure-property relations of intra- and intermolecular (co)polymer assembly; packaging fragile biomolecules; developing artificial enzymes; enhancing colloidal stability; and tailoring smart materials.\
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The research of the Self-Organizing Soft Matter group develops along three lines:
[Read more](#)
- Polymer assembly: Supramolecular and block (co-)polymers in a different light
- Colloidal assembly: Orchestrating large colloids with small molecules
- Biological soft matter: Protein biophysics
[Close](#)
## Our research lines
[### Polymer Assembly](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/self-organizing-soft-matter/impacts/polymer-assembly)[### Colloidal Assembly](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/self-organizing-soft-matter/impacts/colloidal-assembly)[### Biological Soft Matter](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/self-organizing-soft-matter/impacts/biological-soft-matter)
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## Meet some of our Researchers
[Full Professor
### Ilja Voets](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/researchers/ilja-voets)
- [See all our researchers](https://research.tue.nl/en/organisations/self-organizing-soft-matter/persons/)
## Recent Publications
- [See all publications](https://research.tue.nl/en/organisations/self-organizing-soft-matter/publications/)
Our most recent peer reviewed publications
- [### Effect of heat treatment on casein micelle structure and acid and rennet gel properties in goat and cow milk
Food Hydrocolloids
(2026)
Swantje Breunig,Zekun Fan,Renske Bouma,Gregory N. Smith,Rafael V.M. Freire,Ilja K. Voets,Steven R. Parnell,Kasper Hettinga,Etske Bijl](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/37aa90b8-fa67-4805-93ad-558e60d07b01)
- [### Super-resolution microscopy reveals heterogeneity in the coverage of oil-in-water food emulsions
Food Hydrocolloids
(2025)
Abbas Jabermoradi,Sanam Foroutanparsa,Ilja K. Voets,Jo J.M. Janssen,John P.M. van Duynhoven,Johannes Hohlbein](https://puretest.tue.nl/nl/publications/1f975cad-3f30-44a7-8391-8e69490406f5)
- [### Inhibition of ice recrystallization with designed twistless helical repeat proteins
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
(2025)
Robbert J. de Haas,Harley Pyles,Evelyn B. Huddy,Jannick van Ossenbruggen,Chuanbao Zheng,Daniëlle van den Broek,Sanne N. Giezen,Ann Carr,Asim K. Bera,Alex Kang](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/8b1b89cf-eecd-4d99-9448-580e2717f942)
- [### Self-consistent field description of polyelectrolyte-grafted colloidal actuators
Soft Matter
(2025)
Eleonora Foschino,Irene E. Hulsen,Alessandro Ianiro,Remco Tuinier,Mark Vis](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/5c0ac9e1-ca07-487d-ad08-1c813538cf62)
- [### Dynamic pathways in energy landscapes guiding supramolecular Janus dendrimer self-assemblies between lamellar and cubic architectures
Nature Communications
(2025)
Jiabin Luan,Danni Wang,Niels P. Kok,Neshat Moslehi,Ilja K. Voets,Daniela A. Wilson](https://research.tue.nl/nl/publications/f8556f39-6fcc-4544-82f6-53a11af57d62)
## Outreach and Science Communication
We like to explain the essence of our research to a wider audience. In a language that is also understandle for people without a chemical background. Below you find links to podcasts, videos and articles in which someone from our group is participating.Unfortunately most of them are in Dutch only.
- [Eye-opener: Klitteband gemaakt van DNA](https://www.sciencelink.net/media/barbara-malheiros-klittenband-gemaakt-van-dna/21257.article?adredir=1)
- [Kijk magazine: Jezelf laten invriezen: is dat ooit mogelijk?](https://www.kijkmagazine.nl/science/jezelf-laten-invriezen-is-dat-ooit-mogelijk/)
- [Podcast Verrukkelijke Wetenschap](https://art19.com/shows/verrukkelijke-wetenschap/episodes/1c51add1-4948-46f0-8780-73164754599c)
- ['Vuurvliegen" les voor basisschoolleerlingen door Danielle van de Broek](https://www.c3.nl/vuurvliegen/)
- [Sciencelink article "vastgepinde antivrieseiwitten voor het eerst waargenomen"](https://www.sciencelink.net/nieuws/vastgepinde-antivrieseiwitten-voor-het-eerst-waargenomen/21036.article)
- [Universiteit van Nederland video "Kan een ingevroren mens ooit weer leven?"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1GLoWA6krI)
- [Sound of science podcast "Hoe bepaal je de structuur van een van de grootste eiwitten ter wereld?"](https://www.tue.nl/en/research/sound-of-science#c274222)
- [Wetenschapsprogramma Atlas "Wanneer is een vaccin goed genoeg om deze pandemie te stoppen?"](https://www.ntr.nl/Atlas/439/detail/Atlas/VPWON_1328173)
- [Animation on antifreeze proteins (EN)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoRgpqAVsTE)
- [Superhero science and technology journal article "Marine Fish Antifreeze Proteins: The Key Towards Cryopreserving The Winter Soldier"](https://journals.open.tudelft.nl/superhero/article/view/2105)
- [Kennislink article "Anti-vries eiwitten beter begrepen"](https://www.sciencelink.net/verdieping/antivries-eiwitten-beter-begrepen/4666.article)
- [Nemo Kennislink article "Het ene antivries eiwit is het andere niet"](https://www.nemokennislink.nl/publicaties/het-ene-antivries-is-het-andere-niet/)
- [Nemo Kennislink article "Antivries van de poolvis: nu ook handig voor mensen"](https://www.nemokennislink.nl/publicaties/antivries-in-het-bloed/)
**Management & Office assistant**
Aishwarya Khokle
[a.r.khokle@remove-this.tue.nl](#)\
+31 (0)40 2475385
## Contact
- ### Visiting address
Helix Building; Office STO 2.49
Het Kranenveld 14
5612 AZ
Eindhoven
Netherlands
[+31 (0)40 247 8889](tel:+310402478889)
- ### Postal address
Helix Building; Office: STO 2.49 attn. Prof Ilja Voets
P.O. Box 513
5600 MB
Eindhoven
Netherlands
- ### Visiting address
Helix Building; Office STO 2.49
Het Kranenveld 14
5612 AZ
Eindhoven
Netherlands
[+31 (0)40 247 8880](tel:+310402478880)
- ### Postal address
Helix Building; Office: STO 2.49 attn. Prof Ilja Voets
P.O. Box 513
5600 MB
Eindhoven
Netherlands
- ###
- ###
Teamlead
[I.Voets@remove-this.tue.nl](#)
- ###
Secretary
[Secretariat.SSM@remove-this.tue.nl](#)
- ###
Secretary
[m.s.louw@remove-this.tue.nl](#)