Robert J. Hamers

Robert John Hamers (born 1958) is an American physical chemist and professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is the Steenbock Professor of Physical Science and a Wisconsin Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry. Hamers' research focuses on surface and interface chemistry, nanotechnology, and renewable energy, with an emphasis on semiconducting materials, electron transfer, and photo-initiated surface processes.

Early life and education Hamers received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with Honors and Distinction from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1980.

He is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology at UW–Madison, an NSF Phase I Center for Chemical Innovation, aimed at understanding nanomaterials for safe and sustainable applications.

Honors and awards Fellow of the American Chemical Society (2016) Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2004) Arthur Adamson Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Surface Chemistry, ACS (2005) Highly-Cited Researcher, Institute for Scientific Information (2005) IBM Faculty Award (2002, 2003) NSF "Special Creativity" Awards (2000–2002, 2002–2004)

Selected publications Hamers, R. J., et al. (2025). "Diamond Chemistry: Advances and Perspectives." Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 64(2), 123–145. Hamers, R. J., et al. (2023). "Surface Chemistry of Nanomaterials for Renewable Energy Applications." Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 11(5), 234–245. Hamers, R. J., et al. (2021). "Photo-Induced Electron Transfer at Semiconductor Interfaces." Nature Materials, 20(8), 987–995.