Primary fields of research

• Fluorescent dyes
• Fluorescence in organic materials
• Molecular sensors and assays
• Self-assembly in molecular materials

Teaching

• Organisk kemi
• Organisk syntese
• Fotofysik og fotokemi
• Nano-kemi
• Materiale-kemi

Short presentation

Bo Wegge Laursen (b. 1970) is professor of chemistry and Director of Nano-Science Center at the University of Copenhagen. He obtained his Ph.D. in 2001, work carried out at Risø National Laboratory, Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Chemistry. In 2004 he became affiliated with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen as assistant professor, in 2009 as associate professor and in 2013 as full professor. In 2003-4 he was post-doctoral fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles. Bo Wegge Laursen's main research interest lies within the areas of: fluorescents in organic materials, molecular sensors, self-assembly in molecular materials, molecular electronics and graphene. He has published more than 100 papers in peer reviewed scientific journals including several contributions to: Advanced Materials, Angewandte Chemie, Journal of the American Chemical Society and Nature Communications. Bo Wegge Laursen actively seeks to connect his basic research to innovation. He has several fruitful industry collaborations, 7 patents/patent applications, and co-founded two spin out companies: FRS Systems ApS (http://www.frs-systems.com/ ) and KU Dyes (www.ku-dyes.com/ ) where he is CEO.   

Current research

CV

Born March 21st, 1970
Married to Malene de Place
Children: Laura (1995), Karl (1997) and William (2000)

Selected academic experience and positions

2015 - Founder and CEO of KU Dyes ApS (www.ku-dyes.com/ )
2015 - Founder and board member of FRS Systems ApS (www.frs-systems.com/ )
2013 - Director for Nano-Science Center, University of Copenhagen.
2013 - Professor of chemistry at University of Copenhagen.
2009 - 2013 Associate professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen.
2010 - Leader for the Section for Nano Chemistry at Institute of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen.
2009 – 2015 Project manager for Chinese Danish Center for Self-assembled molecular electronic nanosystems.
2006 – 2009 Research associate professor, Nano-Science Center, Department of Chemistry,University of Copenhagen.
2004 – 2006 Research assistant professor, Nano-Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen.
2003 – 2004 Post Doctoral fellow in the group of Professor J. F. Stoddart at University of California, Los Angeles.
2001 – 2003 Post Doctoral position at the Nano-Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen.
1998 – 2001 Ph.D. from University of Copenhagen, work carried out at Risø National Laboratory, Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Chemistry.

Current research interests

Dyes and photo-physics: Energy transport in molecular materials. Synthesis and photo-physical properties of cationic organic dyes. Development and applications of fluorescent labels and sensors.

Supramolecular and nano chemistry: Synthesis and self-assembly of emissive pi-systems in solution, nanostructures, thin films, and crystals.

Materials science/chemistry: Structures, optical and electronic properties of thin films of molecular materials. 

External funding covering the period from 2003 – 2022: >50 MDKK

Publications

117 research articles in international peer-reviewed journals (J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem., Nano Letters, Adv. Mater. etc.), 7 patents. According to the ISI Web of Science, >4000 citations (August 2022) have been achieved in the period 1999–present with an h-index of 33. See list of publications for details.