Ellen Backus appointed to Minerva Program

The Max Planck Society (MPS) has appointed Ellen Backus, Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P) to the Minerva Program as of April 1. This appointment comprises a W2 Group Leader position and additional funding for Backus's research projects.

The Dutch scientist joined the MPI-P in Mainz in 2012 and is studying the behavior of water molecules at interfaces. Water at interfaces plays an important role for instance in catalysis, corrosion and electrochemistry. One of her research projects focuses on understanding the surface of ice at the molecular level and how atmospherically relevant molecules, which are responsible for the destruction of the ozone layer, react on ice surfaces. Her group also studies the photo-catalytic splitting of water: Water can be converted into hydrogen and oxygen on certain surfaces under the influence of sunlight. Backus is unravelling the mechanism of these processes on a molecular level. Photo-catalytic water splitting offers a great potential to supply hydrogen to the hydrogen industry in an ecologically clean and economically efficient way.

Ellen Backus was already awarded an ERC starting grant for her research in 2013 and has meanwhile established her own research group at MPIP.

In order to improve the working conditions of young female scientists in particular, the Senate of the Max Planck Society designed the Minerva Program has taken in 30 female scientists, each with an excellent track record. The aim of the program is to qualify these women for a leadership position in five years' time, within the framework of a W2 contract. The selection process is rigorous: the candidates are nominated by the respective Max Planck institute and then selected in cooperation with external assessors. In total, 83 female scientists have benefited from the Minerva Program so far, more than 55 currently have a job that will serve as a stepping stone to senior positions.