Professor Jan Mol

Profile

The overarching theme of Dr Mol’s research is to engineer quantum effects in atomic- and molecular-scale devices. During his PhD Jan developed novel scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to investigate the properties of individual dopant atoms in silicon that hold a significant promise for quantum computation. In particular, he mapped out the quantum mechanical wavefunction of atoms that where placed with atomic precision in the silicon substrate. Following his PhD Jan started to apply his expertise in quantum transport to molecular-scale devices, which now covers a broad range of research topics from fundamental studies of electron transfer in individual molecules, and nanoscale thermodynamics, to applications including solid-state nanopores for DNA sequencing and molecular data storage, and single-molecule biosensors for rapid pathogen detection. Some of Dr Mol’s research highlights include the observation of nuclear tunnelling in a graphene-based single-molecule transistor and direct entropy measurement in a nanoscale quantum system. Most recently, Jan has begun developing atomically precise materials for energy harvesting applications. The scope and impact of Jan’s work is reflected by the patents that he has filed on devices for quantum computing, DNA sequencing, neuromorphic computing, and nanoscale manufacturing.

Dr Mol has a strong track record of publishing in high-impact journals such as ACS Nano and Nature Materials. His ability to lead significant independent research has been recognised by the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and UKRI, who have each awarded him with a research fellowship. Jan has also demonstrated his ability to collaborate and manage strongly multidisciplinary teams, specifically as co-investigator on the EPSRC QuEEN Programme Grant. His latest research fellowship – the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship – has enabled Jan to build on his early-career successes, which include fruitful collaborations with industrial partners and the establishment of international network supported by the Global Challenges Research Fund, and accelerate his research; he is bringing together an excellent  team of postdocs and PhD students with complementary skills in physics, chemistry, and materials science to tackle challenges in energy, health, and information processing. To achieve his goals, Jan collaborates with academic and industrial partners from across the UK and world-wide (e.g. USA, Singapore, Greece, and South Africa). Finally, Jan has taken a leading role in engaging with wider academic and general audiences by organising workshops and symposia, and by developing outreach materials and activities related to atomic- and molecular-scale devices.

Research

Research Interests:

See Jan Mol’s research profile pages including details of research interests, publications, and live grants.

Supervision

Current research group:

• Teymour Talha-Dean working on 2D material biosensors (with IMRE Singapore)
• Zaid Dhorat fabricating nanostructures using electric breakdown
• Rebecca Peake developing topological 2D polymer devices
• Dr Maryana Asaad working on synthesis and characgterisation of nanoparticle arrays
• Dr Thibault Degousee developing thermoelectric nanodevices
• Dr Evgeniya Pyurbeeva working on nanoscale thermodynamics

Past PhD students:

• Dr Evgeniya Pyurbeeva: Entropic effects and electronic measurements of entropy in mesoscopic systems 
• Dr John Cully: Graphene nanogaps and nanoelectric devices
• Dr Jasper Fried: Single-molecule nano electronic biosensors fabricated via electrical breakdown
• Dr Jacob Swett: Low-Noise Suspended Silicon Nitride Devices and Their Applications
• Dr Achim Harzheim: Thermoelectric effects in carbon nanostructures
• Dr Jakub Sowa: Vibrational effects in quantum transport through single-molecule junctions
• Ghazi Sarwat: Nano-electronic devices using two-dimensional and phase change materials
• Dr Felix Schupp: Silicon nanowires, cryogenic control and radio-frequency read-out for quantum devices
• Dr Pawel Puczkarski: Graphene tunneljunctions for nanoelectronics and biosensing 
• Dr Alex Barbaro: Spin resonance in novel environments
• Dr Aaron Lau: Single-molecule electronics with graphene nano-electrodes