Prof. dr. Ad van den Berg is interested in understanding the origin of cosmic rays at ultra-high energies and their acceleration mechanisms.

Ad van den Berg has focused in the recent years on the physics with and the origin of cosmic rays at extreme energies, which is one of the key science questions of astroparticle physics. In 2009 he has been appointed as professor at the University of Groningen in the field of experimental astroparticle physics. He and his group joined in 2005 the Pierre Auger Collaboration and was asked at that time by the collaboration to lead the development of the radio-detection technique for cosmic rays, recognizing his leadership. Under his leadership the first detection of cosmic rays at the Pierre Auger Collaboration was performed and a detailed comparison of experimental and theoretical data has been achieved. With these efforts the radio-detection technique from small-scale experiments to the present medium-scale experiment through the deployment of more than 100 stations spread over an area of more than 10 km².

Ad van den Berg was the chair person of the International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC) which took place in The Hague in 2015.