Former colleagues

Former PhD candidates

Silvia Zanoni: Research Chemist at Ioniqa Technologies

Erik Maris: Postdoctoral Fellow at ETH Zurich

Sophie van Vreeswijk: Project Leader at Avantium

Bas Terlingen: Technical Consultant Energy at Mott McDonald

Roozbeh Valadian: Sales Manager at Granutools

Thomas van Swieten: Quantitative Risk Analyst at ABN AMRO Bank

Nikos Nikolopoulos: Project Leader at Shell

Koen Bossers: Scientist Polyolefins Catalysis at Sabic

Maarten Jongkind: Software Engineer at Triodos Bank

Xinwei Ye: Postdoctoral Fellow at Utrecht University

Stijn Hinterding: Researcher at ASML

Guusje Delen: R&D Team Lead Capture Materials at Skytree

Laurens Mandemaker: Postdoctoral Fellow at Utrecht University

Suzanne Verkleij: Researcher Environmental Safety at Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)

Pasi Paalanen: Computational and Statistical Data Analyst

Katarina Stanciakova: Application Scientist at OpenEye

Anne-Eva Nieuwelink: Program Manager at Utrecht University

Beatriz Luna Murillo: Project Leader at Shell

Miguel Rivera Torrente: Project Leader at Shell

Charlotte Vogt: Assistant Professor at Technion

Jochem Wijten: Onderzoeker Omgevingsveiligheid at Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)

Donglong Fu: Associate Professor at Tianjin University

Jeroen van Vollebroek: Postdoctoral Fellow at University Medical Center Utrecht

Katinka Wondergem: Assistant Professor at Nagoya University

Egor Fuvachev: Research Chemist at Ioniqa Technologies

Jose Moya Cancino: Lecturer at Universidad Finis Terrae

Ivan Garcia Torregrossa: Green Hydrogen Research Specialist at Sungrow Europe

Hai Le The: Surface Science Specialist at ASML

Marjolein Velthoen: Corporate Patent Councel at Avantium

Miguel Solsona: Postdoctoral fellow at Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Thomas Hartman: Research and Education Designer at Utrecht University & Scientific Illustrator at This

Robin Geitenbeek: Lecturer and Scientist Forensic Science at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Ana Hernandez: Thermochemical Processes Scientist at Centro Nacional de Energías Renovables

Fang Liu: Research Engineer at TotalEnergies

Ozgun Attila: IT Operations Lead at Shell

Naresh Kumar: Senior Scientist and Lecturer at ETH Zurich

Joris Goetze: Patent Attorney at V.O. Patents & Trademarks

Zafer Ozturk: Research Data Steward at Twente University

Ramon Oord: Research Technician  at Utrecht University

Frank Hendriks: Machine Learning Engineer at Eneco

William van der Graaff: Application Scientist at Corbion

Sam Kalirai: Engineering Manager at Mitra Chem

Zoran Ristanovic: Analytical Chemistry Expert at TMC Science & Technology

Robin Jastrebski: Process Engineer at Avantium

Korneel Cats: Research Scientist at Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)

Mustafa al Samarai: Senior Scientist at University of Tokyo

Dimitrije Cicmil: Global Lead for Process Review Teams at Grundfos

Joseph Stewart: Incubation Projects Manager at TotalEnergies

Matthijs de Winter: Teamleader at inHolland University of Applied Sciences

Carlo Angelici: Senior Scientist at Avantium

Sophie Wiedemann: Analytical Specialist at Cargill

Ilona van Zandvoort: Research Scientist at Avantium

Wenhao Luo: Full Professor at Inner Mongolia University

Evelien van Schrojenstein Lantman: Chief Operating Officer at Triply

Hendrik van der Bij: Global Business Manager at Ketjen Corporation

Jesper Sattler: R&D Project Manager at Eurotrol

Qingyun Qian: Research Scientist at ExxonMobil

Peter Spannring: Development Chemist at Indorama Ventures Europe

Dilek Boga: Business Development Executive at High Performance Compounds Kaucuk

Clare Harvey: Team Leader and Project Manager Circular Plastics at TNO

Annelie Jongerius: Technology Manager at Avantium

Upakul Deka: Scientific and Management Expert in Chemicals, Catalysis, Circular Economy & Sustainability at Shell

Peter Hausoul: Group Leader at RWTH Aachen University

Luis Aramburo Corrales: Chemical Engineer at BeePlanet Factory

Inge Buurmans: Research Scientist at Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)

Davide Mores: Business Developer Chemistry & Explosion Safety at TNO

Bart Hereijgers: Business Manager Custom Catalysts at Euro Support

Lukasz Karwacki: New Business Development and Sustainability Manager at BASF

Nadya Beznis: Logistics Support Desk Supervisor at Nouryon

Emiel de Smit: Staff Scientist at ExxonMobil

Peter de Peinder (niet Pieter!): Founder and Scientist at VibSpec

Marianne Kox: New Fuels Projects Team Leader at Shell

Leticia Espinosa Alonso: Head of Consumer Biosolutions Digital at Novozymes

Muriel Lepage: Program Manager at Toyota

Elena Parvulescu: Global Innovation Manager Monomers Division at BASF

Ingmar Swart: Associate Professor at Utrecht University

Alwies van der Heijden: Founder and Consultant at Techem Consultancy

Daniel Radu: Planning Engineer at TotalEnergies

Jaap Bergwerff: Research Director at Ketjen

Pieter Bruijnincx: Full Professor at Utrecht University

Joost van Lingen: Senior Program Manager & Product Team Leader at TNO

Cristina Nenu: CO2 Capture & Utilization Portfolio Manager at Shell

Daphne Keller: Chemistry & Physics Teacher at Korenaer

Stan Tinnemans: QA Head Benelux at GSK

Fernando Morales: R&D Manager at Haldor Topsoe

Gerbrand Mesu: Senior Scientist at Phillips 66

Willem Heijboer: Senior Scientist at Tata Steel

Pieter van der Avert: General Manager at Scaldis SMC

Former postdoctoral researchers

Bettina Baumgartner (2021-2023), Assistant Professor at University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands)

Yaqi Wu (2020-2023), Associate Research Fellow at the Ningbo Institute of New Materials Technology & Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)

Nina Genz (2020-2022), Beamline Scientist at Swiss Light Source (Switzerland)

Matteo Monai (2019-2021), Assistant Professor at Utrecht University (the Netherlands)

Ina Vollmer (2019-2021), Assistant Professor at Utrecht University (the Netherlands)

Luke Parker (2019-2021), Scientist at TNO (The Netherlands)

Hongyu An (2019-2022), Performance Engineer at ASML (The Netherlands)

Jiadong Xiao (2018-2019), Assistant Professor at Shinshu University (Japan)

Shiyou Xing (2018-2020), Assistant Professor at the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)

Robert Geitner (2018-2020), Assistant Professor at Technical University Ilmenau (Germany)

Kang Cheng (2017-2020), Associate Professor at Xiamen University (China)

Mario De bruyn (2017-2020), Deputy Director at the Circa Renewable Energy Centre of the University of York (UK)

Yuanshuai Liu (2017-2019), Assistant Professor at Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)

Marianna Gambino (2017-2020), Senior Research Specialist at Dow (the Netherlands

Guangxian Pei (2016-2017), Associate Professor at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)

Beatriz Seoane de la Cuesta (2016-2019), Technical Project Lead at ASML (the Netherlands)

Jamal Ftouni (2016-2017), Scientist at WWF Switzerland (Switzerland)

Paul Pletcher (2016-2019), Scientist at Clariant (USA)

Joel Schmidt (2015-2018), Fluid Catalytic Cracking Technology Team Engineer at Chevron (USA)

Matthias Filez (2015-2019), Postdoctoral Fellow at KULeuven-Ghent University (Belgium)

Leila Negahdar (2015-2017), Assistant Professor at University College Dublin (Ireland)

Abhishek Dutta Chowdhury (2014-2018), Assistant Professor at Wuhan University (China)

Ines Lezcano-González (2014-2016), Research Associate at University College London & Diamond Light Source (UK)

Sang-Ho Chung (2014-2017), Research Scientist at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia)

Ara Muñoz-Murillo (2014-2016), S.I. Inspector SOIVRE at Provincial Directorate of Commerce of Cádiz (Spain)

Sandra Constant (2014-2016), Scientist at Avantium (the Netherlands)

Jan Falkenhagen (2014-2016), Process Analyzer Technology Engineering at Covestro (Germany)

Marleen Kerssens (2013-2014), Chemistry Teacher at Arte College (the Netherlands).

Javier Ruiz-Martinez (2013-2015), Assistant Professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia)

Homer Genuino (2013-2017), Senior Scientist at NTCP (the Netherlands)

Gareth Whiting (2012-2015), Scientific Program Manager at National Science Foundation (Ireland)

Christoph Sprung (2012-2013), Research Consultant at VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH (Germany)

Elena Borodina (2012-2015), Account Manager at TotalEnergies (Belgium)

Fiona Kirby (2012-2014), R&D Manager at WaterWipes (Ireland)

Meenakshisundaram Sankar (2011-2013), Lecturer at Cardiff University (UK)

Jan Philipp Hofmann (2011-2013), Full Professor at TU Darmstadt (Germany)

Emma Gibson (2011-2012), Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow (UK)

Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez (2009-2010), Associate Director & Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky (USA)

Matthijs Zandbergen (2009-2011), Head of Strategic Partnerships at IMEC (Belgium)

Satu Korhonen (2008-2010), General Manager Products & Catalyst Systems at Wartsila (Finland)

Andrei Parvulescu (2008-2011), Global Technology Manager Monomers at BASF (Germany)

Regina Palkovits (2007-2007), Full Professor at RWTH Aachen University (Germany)

Ana Iglesias-Juez (2007-2009), Group Leader at the Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (Spain)

Ana Mijovilovich (2006-2009), Research Scientist at Biologické centrum AV ČR, v.v.i.

Eli Stavitski (2006-2009), Senior Scientist at Brookhaven National Laboratory (USA)

Simona Bennici (2006-2006), Research Director at CNRS (France)

Agnieszka Ruppert (2005-2008), Full Professor at Lodz University of Technology (Poland)

Bas Vogelaar (2005-2005), Digitalization Expert at Ketjen Corporation (the Netherlands)

Virginie Belliere-Baca (2004-2005), Senior Vice-President & Global Head of Technology and Innovation at Sulzer

Olga Manoilova (2004-2005), Research Scientist at Clariant (Germany)

Andy Beale (2004-2008), Full Professor at University College London (UK)

Leon van de Water (2003-2005), Principal Scientist at Johnson Matthey (UK)  

Yaying Ji (2002-2003), Scientist at Baxter Healthcare (USA)

Didier Grandjean (2002-2005), Senior Researcher at KULeuven (Belgium)

Pieter Glatzel (2002-2004), Group Head at European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (France)

Xander Nijhuis (2002-2006), Chief Scientist at Sabic (the Netherlands)

Riikka Puurunen (2000-2001), Associate Professor at Aalto University (Finland)

Weibin Fan (1999-2001), Full Professor & Director at the Institute of Coal Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)

Former colleagues - Postdocs


dr. Nina Genz

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied 4.76
N.S.Genz@uu.nl

During her postdoctoral research, Nina will focus on CO2 hydrogenation. Here, she will explore the influence of varying structural properties on the catalytic performance of Ni/SiO2 catalysts. For gaining insight >

dr. Yaqi Wu

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied 4.88
Y.Wu1@uu.nl

My research focuses on designing and developing materials for gas adsorption and separation based on in situ adsorption study, spectroscopic and microscopic tools. Materials, including metal-organic frameworks and zeolites, are >

Former colleagues - PhD Candidates


Yannick Geertzema

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
Y.G.Geertzema@uu.nl

Imines are important precursors for the production of amines, chemical buildings blocks used in plastics, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. Although the hydrogenation reaction from imines to primary amines is straightforward, the >

Sebastian Haben

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
S.Haben@uu.nl

Through the utilization and development of various spectroscopic techniques, Sebastian aimed to investigate the methane dehydro-aromatization (MDA) reaction using metal-modified zeolites as solid catalysts. This project is part of the ARC >

Iris ten Have

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
I.C.tenHave@uu.nl

Due to depletion of fossil fuel reserves, there is an increasing interest in production technologies that offer an alternative. The synthesis of synthetic fuels from syngas (CO/H2 mixtures), also known >

Erik Maris

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
J.J.E.Maris@uu.nl

Rational catalyst design is the holy grail of modern catalysis, which requires a thorough understanding of structure-performance relationships. Micro- and spectroscopy plays a pivotal role in the study of these >

Nikolaos Nikolopoulos

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
N.Nikolopoulos@uu.nl

SOCRATES EU MSCA-ETN develops game-changing technology combinations: 1) to extract metals from distinct industrial-process residues, 2) to recover the metals from the extraction process, 3) to valorise the residual matrix >

Ilse van Ravenhorst

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
I.K.vanRavenhorst@uu.nl

Study Co-based Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) catalysts by synchrotron-based microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to unravel the activation and deactivation mechanisms. In situ/operando Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM) is used for the >

Stanislav Simko

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
S.Simko@uu.nl

In our work, we develop adaptive QM/MM techniques that allow diffusion of molecules between the QM and MM region. This computational method will be especially useful for studying processes with >

Bas Terlingen

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - Vening Meinesz-B 4.44
B.J.P.Terlingen@uu.nl

For AkzoNobel, the project concerns the re-use of the by-product hydrochloric acid to generate valuable compounds, thereby aiming to close the raw material loop, to reduce the carbon footprint and >

Sophie van Vreeswijk

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
S.H.vanVreeswijk@uu.nl

In this research project, several non-commodity zeolite framework structures are investigated as examples of small molecule activation processes. To gather detailed physicochemical insights of these materials, a wide variety of >

Maximilian Werny

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
M.J.Werny@uu.nl

In this research project, silica-supported Ziegler-Natta and metallocene-based polymerization catalysts are studied in the early stages of active sites genesis and polymer formation. In order to do so, a multi-scale >

Shuang Yang

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
S.Yang1@uu.nl

My research is focusing on waste-derived nanomaterials for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 (ERCO2), powered by renewable electricity, is a promising strategy to convert CO2 emission to fuels >

Silvia Zanoni

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
S.Zanoni@uu.nl

This project aims to a thorough investigation of the support role in the polymerization reaction catalyzed by metallocenes, in order to understand the mechanism behind the significant boost in activity >

Former colleagues - Support Staff


dr. Julien Daubignard

Advanced Research Center-Chemical Building Blocks Consortium

Room 2.04 - Vening Meinesz-C
J.Daubignard@uu.nl

Julien Daubignard was project manager at ARC CBBC.

Mascha Janssen

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied 4.78
M.H.D.Janssen@uu.nl

Mascha Janssen is secretary to the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group.

dr. Martina Rádli

Research Support Office - Utrecht University

Room - Hans Freudenthal 0.12
+31 30 253 8044
M.Radli@uu.nl

As Research Support Officer, I assist the members of the Weckhuysen group in identifying potential funding for their research, provide advice on national and international grant opportunities and support researchers in writing grant applications. I also help >

dr. Jochem Wijten

Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis - Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied, 4th floor study area
J.H.J.Wijten@uu.nl

ir. Pascal Wijten

Utrecht University

Room - David de Wied 4.25
+31 6 81 335 174
P.Wijten1@uu.nl