Gerrit "Ger" Challa (born 18 December 1928)[1] is a Dutch chemist. He was professor of chemistry and polymer technology at the University of Groningen from 1965 to 1993.[2]
Challa was born in Amsterdam.[1] He studied chemistry between 1946 and 1953. He worked ten years for the Institute of Cellulose Research of the .[3] Challa obtained his title of doctor in maths and physics on 13 May 1959 under Jan Ketelaar at the University of Amsterdam. His thesis was titled: "Formation of polyethylene terephthalate by ester interchange : equilibria kinetics and molecular weight distribution".[1] After starting as professor at the University of Groningen he set the possibility to study polymer chemistry. Challa also developed the research department.[3]
He was elected a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1986.[4] Since 1998 he is also an honorary member of the Royal Netherlands Chemical Society.[5]