Jens Nørskov
# Jens Nørskov

Jens Kehlet Nørskov (born September 21, 1952, in Denmark) is the Villum Kann Rasmussen professor at the Technical University of Denmark. He is a Danish physicist most notable for his work on theoretical description of surfaces, catalysis, materials, nanostructures, and biomolecules.

## Education

Nørskov earned his MSc in Physics and Chemistry in 1976 and his PhD in Theoretical Physics in 1979 from the University of Aarhus Denmark under B. I. Lundqvist.

## Academic career

Nørskov is known for his theoretical work on description of surfaces, catalysis, materials, nanostructures, and biomolecules. His work on computer-based heterogeneous catalysis has in several instances led to the development of new ideas for catalysts for e.g. ammonia synthesis and fuel-cells. He holds honorary doctorates from the Eindhoven University of Technology, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and from the Technical University of Munich (TUM). He is a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, the Danish Academy of Engineering, Academia Europaea and a foreign member of the US National Academy of Engineering.

Following his PhD, he served as a research fellow, postdoctoral associate and staff scientist at various institutions – including IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, and Haldor Topsoe. In 1987, Norskov began serving as a research professor at Technical University of Denmark and was named professor of theoretical physics in 1992. In June 2010, he moved to Stanford University to become the Leland T. Edwards Professor of Chemical Engineering and the Founding Director of the SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis. In July 2018, he moved back to the Technical University of Denmark to hold the Villum Kann Rasmussen Chair. Nørskov is currently the chair of the Danish National Research Foundation.

## Personal life

Jens Nørskov is married to Bodil.

## Books

* Fundamental Concepts in Heterogeneous Catalysis, Jens Nørskov, Felix Studt, Frank Abild-Pedersen, Thomas Bligaard.
* Chemical Bonding at Surfaces and Interfaces, edited by Anders Nilsson, Lars G.M. Pettersson, Jens Nørskov.
* Fuel Cell Science: Theory, Fundamentals, and Biocatalysis, edited by Andrzej Wieckowski, Jens Nørskov.

## Honours and awards

* 2018: Niels Bohr International Gold Medal
* 2018: ETH Zurich Chemical Engineering Medal
* 2016: European Inventor Award
* 2016: Murray Ramsey Award
* 2015: The Carlsberg Foundation Research Prize
* 2015: Rigmor and Carl Holst-Knudsen's Science Prize
* 2015: Irving Langmuir Prize in Chemical Physics
* 2014: Michel Boudart Award for the Advancement of Catalysis
* 2013: Hagemann Medal
* 2011: Giuseppe Parravano Memorial Award for Excellence in Catalysis Research
* 2009: Alwin Mittasch Award (jointly)
* 2009: Gerhard Ertl Lecture Award
* 2009: Gabor A. Somorjai Award for Creative Research in Catalysis
* 2009: Science of Hydrogen and Energy Award
* 2007: Grundfos Prize
* 2007: Mulliken medal
* 2007: Innovation Prize
* 2003: Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society
* 2003: Richard A. Glenn Award
* 1991: Villum Kann Rasmussen's Award
* 1990: Danish Physical Society's Prize
* 1989: Samuel Friedman (Rescue) Award
* 1987: Reinholdt W. Jorch's Award
* 1979: ECOSS prize
