Bernard de Wit
Encyclopedia
Bernard de Wit is a Dutch
theoretical physicist
specialized in supergravity
and particle physics
.
Bernard de Wit studied theoretical physics at Utrecht University
, where he got his PhD
under supervision of Nobel Prize
laureate Martinus Veltman in 1973. After postdoc stints in Stony Brook, Utrecht and Leiden
, he became a staff member at National Institute for Nuclear and High Energy Physics (NIKHEF
) in 1978, where became head of the theory group in 1981. In 1984 he became professor of theoretical physics at Utrecht University where he has stayed for the rest of his career. He officially retired in 2010, but continues to do research.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
theoretical physicist
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
specialized in supergravity
Supergravity
In theoretical physics, supergravity is a field theory that combines the principles of supersymmetry and general relativity. Together, these imply that, in supergravity, the supersymmetry is a local symmetry...
and particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
.
Bernard de Wit studied theoretical physics at Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
, where he got his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
under supervision of Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
laureate Martinus Veltman in 1973. After postdoc stints in Stony Brook, Utrecht and Leiden
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
, he became a staff member at National Institute for Nuclear and High Energy Physics (NIKHEF
NIKHEF
NIKHEF is an acronym for Nationaal Instituut voor Kernfysica en Hoge-Energiefysica . Nowadays this acronym is not used anymore and the name is changed to Nationaal instituut voor subatomaire fysica...
) in 1978, where became head of the theory group in 1981. In 1984 he became professor of theoretical physics at Utrecht University where he has stayed for the rest of his career. He officially retired in 2010, but continues to do research.