Professional career

Work Experience

• since 2021: Vice Rector for International Policy, Interculturality, and Alumni Policy, KU Leuven
• 2017-2021: Vice Rector for International Policy, LERU, and Alumni Policy, KU Leuven
• 2009-2017: Dean, Faculty of Science, KU Leuven
• 2008-2009: Vice-dean for education, Faculty of Science, KU Leuven
• since 2001: Permanent academic staff at the KU Leuven - Full professor since 2007
• 2000-2001: Visiting professor at KU Leuven
• 1993-2001: Postdoctoral Researcher (Research Foundation Flanders (FWO)), at Laboratory of Solid State Physics and Magnetism, KU Leuven
• 1991-1992: Research Fellow, Experimental Physics Division, ISOLDE, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland
• 1989-1990: Scientific Collaborator at CERN, ISOLDE, Geneva
• 1985-1990: Research Assistant, Institute of Nuclear and Radiation Physics, KU Leuven

Education

• 1985-1991: PhD in physics, KU Leuven; title: Laser spectroscopic study of nuclear ground state properties of strontium isotopes, promoter: Prof. R.E. Silverans
• 1981-1985: Licentiate in physics, KU Leuven; title: Study of the shape of 199mPo and 199,201,203At by measurement of anisotropic particle emission, promoter: Prof. L. Vanneste
• 1975-1981: Secondary education, Latin-Mathematics, Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege, Mol

Awards

• CERN Fellowship, 1991-1992
• Laureate in Natural Sciences of the Royal Flemisch Academy of Sciences and Arts of Belgium, 1998.

Extended stays abroad

• since 2007: Regular experimental campaigns (vibrational spectroscopy of clusters) at the FELIX free electron laser facility (formerly at the FOM Institute for Plasma Physics, Nieuwegein, currently at Radboud University Nijmegen)
• 1986-2007: Regular experimental campaigns (laser spectroscopy of atomic nuclei) at ISOLDE, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

Research

Research activities

Peter Lievens established a research group in cluster physics at KU Leuven, after completing doctoral and postdoctoral research studies in nuclear physics at CERN. He has more than 30 years of experience in the investigation of physical and chemical properties of clusters and nanoparticles. His research focus is on basic understanding of formation, stability, structure, electronic structure, optical properties, and chemical properties of various bimetallic and binary clusters. In gas phase experiments, he employes a variety of cluster beam experiments based on mass spectrometry and laser spectroscopy. He developed several cluster beam instruments and uses advanced tunable laser systems. For studies of clusters deposited on surfaces he relies on scanning probe microscopies and synchrotron-based x-ray spectroscopies.

Fundamental understanding is often reached by comparing experimental findings with phenomenological models, conceptual understanding, and advanced theoretical computations. Hereto Peter Lievens has initiated a large number of collaborations with international experts in computational quantum chemistry, density functional theory, and first principles ab initio calculations.

As coordinator of several collaborative research project, including two Marie-Curie European projects, he gained ample experience with the management of multi-partner scientific collaborations.

Scientific output and invited talks

• A full list of publications is available via Orchid or LIRIAS.
• Published over 270 papers in peer-reviewed journals, was editor of 1 book, and (co-)author of 5 book chapters.
• Author of 17 papers in Physical Review Letters; author of several other papers in highly ranked journals, including Science, Nature Communications, Nature Materials, New Journal of Physics (6), Journal of the American Chemical Society (4), ACS Nano (2), Nano Letters, Angewandte Chemie, Accounts of Chemical Research...  
• Over 60 invited lectures at international conferences, workshops, and universities.

Supervision of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows

• Supervisor of 30 finished PhDs in Physics, currently (co-)supervising 3 PhD students.
• Member of >60 examination committees of PhD or habilitation theses, >10 outside KU Leuven.
• Supervisor of 20 postdoctoral fellows over the years.

Teaching & Learning

Teaching assignments

• 2008–now: Advanced course in Lasers and Laser Spectroscopy for master students in Physics.
• 2014–2018: Introductory course in Quantum Physics for master students in Engineering Sciences and Nanoscience & Nanotechnology.
• 2000–2011: Introductory Physics courses for bachelor students in Speech Therapy & Audiology Sciences, Rehabilitation Sciences & Physiotherapy, Physical Education and Kinesiology.

Teaching and learning projects

• Promoter of four projects dealing with activating working styles (peer instruction) and curriculum innovation (OASE), and co-promoter of a project on interactive class rooms (ALINA)
• Promoter of an Erasmus+ project on the implementation of a “business & innovation” module in bachelor of science teaching programmes, involving 4 international partners (IBIS).
• Una Europa – European Universities Initiative
• Coordinator of the Erasmus+ KA2 project Una.Futura (Project N° 101090004-ERASMUS-EDU-2022-EUR-UNIV-1). Building on the achievements of the alliance’s flagship projects, 1Europe and Una.Resin, Una Europa will pursue a holistic approach under Una.Futura to ensure the true integration of the alliance’s education, research and innovation dimensions. Una.Futura is an ambitious four-year project co-funded with an Erasmus+ grant of €14.4 million which will enable Una Europa to take the next steps towards its ambition of developing a truly integrated European University of the Future.
• Coordinator of the Erasmus+ KA2 project 1Europe (Project N° 612661-EPP-1-2019-1-BE-EPPKA2-EUR-UNIV). The 1Europe project was funded among the first European University pilots selected by the European Commission in June 2019. The pilot set out to establish a Europe-wide living lab for testing and scaling Joint Innovative Formats for education and mobility. Co-funded with an Erasmus+ grant of €5 million for three years and coordinated by KU Leuven, 1Europe marked the first step towards our ambition to create a future-looking European virtual campus, turning the European Higher Education Area into reality.

Services to science and society

Commissions of trust & Memberships

• 2004–2023: Member of the International Advisory Committee of the ISSPIC conference series.
• 2015–2019: Founding member of the Editorial Board of Advances in Physics X, Taylor & Francis.
• 2012–2019: Member of the International Advisory Board (IAB) of the University of Jyväskylä Nanoscience Center (NSC), Finland.
• 2002–2010: Editorial Board Member of New Journal of Physics.
• Memberships: Belgian Physical Society, European Physical Society, American Physical Society, American Chemical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Organization of scientific meetings (selection)

• Chair of the Gordon Research Conference on Clusters and Nanostructures, Les Diablerets, Switzerland, 16-21 June 2019
• Vice Chair of the Gordon Research Conference on Clusters and Nanostructures, Mount Holyoke, USA, 9-14 July 2017
• Chair of the 16th International Symposium on Small Particles and Inorganic Clusters (ISSPIC XVI), Leuven, Belgium, 8-13 July 2012
• Co-chair of the International Conference on Laser Probing (LAP2002), Leuven, Belgium, 7-12 July 2002
• Chair of Joint COST-Action Workgroup Meeting on Individual and Assembled Nanoparticles and Quantum Dots, Leuven, Belgium, 25-27 April 2002

Memberships of governance bodies

• Primary school “De Toverboom”, Katholiek Basisonderwijs Geel-Bel vzw, Member of Board of Directors since 2003; Chair since 2008
• Associatie KU Leuven; Member of Board of Directors since 2017
• Universiteit Derde Leeftijd Leuven, Member of Board of Directors since 2017
• Leuven MindGate (LMG) vzw, Member of Board of Directors since 2017
• Una Europa vzw, Member of Board of Directors since 2019; Chair in 2020
• Odissee University of Applied Sciences, Member of Board of Directors since 2021
• Venice International University, Member of Board of Directors since 2021
• Member of the International Advisory Board of the University of Jyväskylä Nanoscience Center, Finland; 2012-2019
• Member of the International Advisory Board of the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia; since 2023

Research projects (selection)

Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO)

• Design of plasmonic photocatalysts for CO2 conversion based on multi-metallic clusters, research project G076625N, 01.01.2025-31.12.2028
• Excited states, optical spectra, and decay dynamics of small coinage metal clusters, research project G0A0519N, 01.01.2019-31.12.2022
• Low temperature storage ring for ionic molecules and clusters, research infrastructure, G0H1516N, 01.05.2016-30.04.2021
• OPERANDO: In-situ observations of the dynamic processes inside the atomic resolution transmission electron microscope, research infrastructure, I000920N, 01.05.2020-30.04.2024,
• Second- and Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties of Noble Metal Clusters, G0A1817N, 01.01.2017-31.12.2020
• The peculiar magnetism of few-atom binary clusters (G.0B41.15N); 01.01.2015-31.12.2020
• Correlating structure and properties of novel functional molecular metal clusters deposited on surfaces and embedded in 3D matrices (G.0B39.15N); 01.01.2015-31.12.2020
• Tunneling microscopy and tunneling spectroscopy of few atom aggregates (G.OC07.13); 01.01.2013-31.12.2018
• Novel CO oxidation catalysts based on deposited size-selected mono- and bimetallic clusters (G.0349.12); 01.01.2012-31.12.2017
• Particle desorption of surfaces following photon-stimulated evaporation, detected with mass spectrometry (G.0660.11); 01.01.2011-31.12.2016
• Taming Metamaterials (G.A018.12 VIETNAM); 01.01.2012-31.12.2015
• Physical properties of clusters: a quest for building principles of nanometer scale entities (G.0517.10); 01.01.2010-31.12.2015
• Magnetic deflection experiments of small clusters: metal alloys, doped semiconductors and oxides (G.0327.09); 01.01.2009-31.12.2014
• Growth of novel nanostructures with cluster deposition: self-assembly by glancing-angle deposition of controlled building blocks (G.0597.08); 01.01.2008-31.12.2013
• Particle desorption of surfaces following electron stimulated etching, detected with laser ionization and mass spectrometry (G.0472.07); 01.01.2007-31.12.2012

Research Council KU Leuven (BOF)

• Metal-doped carbon clusters as model systems for chemical storage of hydrogen; C14/22/103, 01.10.2022-30.09.2026
• Highly sensitive infrared spectrometer, KA/20/045, Small research infrastructure, 01.01.2021-31.12.2022
• How electron correlations determine the magnetism and electronic excited states of transition metal oxide clusters, C14/18/073, 01.10.2018-30.09.2022
• High-end, high-current Potentiostat: Going one step forward towards ground-breaking electrochemical materials, devices and systems, KA/22/022, Small research infrastructure, 01.01.2023-31.12.2024
• Interplay between dynamics of the atomic structure and confinement of electrons and spins (GOA/14/007); 01.10.2013-30.09.2018
• Genesis of electrical and magnetic properties in condensed matter: towards multifunctionality by tailoring size and structure (GOA/09/006); 01.10.2008-30.09.2014
• Magnetism and superconductivity in hybrid nanosystems (GOA/2004/02); 01.01.2004-31.12.2010
• Tailoring clusters into high performance catalysis (IDO/07/011); 01.05.2008-30.04.2013

European Commission

• FP7 Initial Training Network (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN): Design of novel high performance catalysts and biosensors based on deposited mass-selected clusters assisted by computational theoretical screening (CATSENSE); 01.01.2014-31.12.2018 (coordinator of 8 partners network)
• Designing Advanced Functionalities through controlled NanoElement integration in OXide thin films RISE-DAFNEOX, H2020-ES-MSCA; 01.07.2015-30.06.2018
• FP5 Research Training Network (HPRN-CT-2002-00328): Monodispersed Inorganic Nanoclusters as Building Blocks for Functional Materials (NanoCluster); 01.10.2002-30.09.2006 (coordinator of 6 partners network)