Liedewij Laan

Liedewij Laan is an Associate Professor of Bionanoscience at Delft University of Technology, where she leads a research group focused on evolutionary biophysics. With a background spanning applied physics, experimental biophysics, and systems biology from the University of Twente, Leiden University, and Harvard University, Laan brings an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the interplay between cellular processes and evolutionary dynamics. Her research combines experimental techniques and computational modeling to study how physical laws governing cellular components influence long-term evolutionary outcomes. Laan teaches courses on physics, cell biology, and systems biology in the Applied Physics and Nanobiology programs. Her work aims to provide insights into evolutionary processes with societal relevance, such as cancer progression and drug resistance. Through her involvement in the Pre-University Physics MOOC, Laan seeks to demonstrate how fundamental physics serves as a foundation for innovative technologies in the life sciences.