Former AMOLF director Frans Saris has passed away

On June 29th, former AMOLF director Frans Saris passed away. This sad news has touched many people, including AMOLF colleagues and alumni.

Frans had a lasting impact on AMOLF. He played a defining role in shaping the institute’s culture – an influence still present today. Even after his directorship, he remained closely connected to AMOLF, regularly attending events such as the Monday morning colloquium.

Frans began his career at AMOLF as a doctoral student in the 1960s, conducting his PhD research with Jaap Kistemaker. Later, he became group leader of the surface/materials physics group, and from 1986 to 1996 he served as AMOLF’s director. He also held a professorship in physics at Utrecht University. After leaving AMOLF, he became director at TNO/ECN, and later in his career, he was Dean of the Faculty of Science at Leiden University.

Frans supervised more than 40 PhD students and was an inspiring person for many—both within research and among the support staff. At AMOLF, he will be remembered as a visionary researcher, a committed colleague, and a thoughtful leader.