Prof. Bert Weckhuysen (57) received his Master degree in Chemical & Agricultural Engineering with greatest distinction from Leuven University (KULeuven, Belgium) in 1991. After obtaining his PhD degree in the field of Surface Chemistry, Spectroscopy and Catalysis from Leuven University (KU Leuven, Belgium) with honours (highest degree) in 1995 under the supervision of Prof. Robert Schoonheydt, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow with Prof. Israel Wachs at Lehigh University (PA, USA) and with Prof. Jack Lunsford at Texas A&M University (TX, USA). From 1997 until 2000 he was a research fellow of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (NFWO, currently FWO-Flanders), affiliated with Leuven University (KU Leuven, Belgium).
Weckhuysen is since October 1 2000 Full Professor at Utrecht University (The Netherlands). Weckhuysen has been appointed as first Distinguished Professor of the Faculty of Science at Utrecht University as of September 2012. Since January 2018 he has been promoted to Distinguished University Professor at Utrecht University. He was a visiting professor at Leuven University (KU Leuven, 2000-2005) and has done a sabbatical at Stanford University (USA) in 2012 and at ETH Zurich (Switzerland) in 2022. He has also been a visiting professor at Stanford University & SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (2013-2018), University College London (UK, 2014-2017) and ETH Zürich (Switzerland, 2022).
Weckhuysen (co-)authored ~ 780 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals with an average number of citations per paper of ~ 80 and a Hirsch index of 122 (Web of Science, September 17 2025). Weckhuysen is also the author of ~ 20 conference proceedings publications, ~ 30 other journal publications and editorial material, ~ 30 book chapters, 5 granted patents and 10 patent applications. Furthermore, he is the (co-) editor of five books.
He serves/served on the editorial advisory boards of Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, ChemCatChem, Chem Catalysis, ChemPhysChem, Chemistry-Methods, Vibrational Spectroscopy, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Journal of Applied Chemistry, Applied Catalysis A: General, Topics in Catalysis, Catalysis Letters, Chemical Society Reviews, Faraday Discussions, Chem, Catalysis Today, The Journal of Catalysis, Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis, ChemistryEurope and Angewandte Chemie. He is/has been chairman of the editorial board of Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, ChemCatChem and ChemPhysChem. He has been editor of The Journal of Catalysis (2017- 2022) and is currently editor-in-chief of Catalysis Science & Technology (2023-onwards)
He obtained prestigious VICI (2002), TOP (2006 and 2011), IPP (2020), GROOT (2020) and GRAVITATION (2013) grants from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). In 2012 he has been awarded an Advanced ERC Grant from the European Research Council (ERC), which was followed in 2019 by a top-up Proof-of-Concept (PoC) grant. For the initiation of innovative education programs, more specifically the Da Vinci Project, he received from the Netherlands Initiative for Education Research (NRO), on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, a Comenius Teaching Fellowship (2019) and Comenius Senior Fellowship (2021).
Weckhuysen has received several prestigious research awards, including the:
- 2006 Gold Medal of the Royal Dutch Chemical Society
- 2007 Dechema Award of The Max Buchner Research Foundation
- 2009 Netherlands Catalysis and Chemistry Award
- 2009 Eminent Visitor Award of the Catalysis Society of South Africa
- 2011 Paul H. Emmett Award of the North American Catalysis Society
- 2012 International Catalysis Award of the International Association of Catalysis Societies
- 2013 Vladimir N. Ipatieff Lectureship in Catalysis of Northwestern University
- 2013 John Bourke Award of the Royal Society of Chemistry
- 2013 Spinoza Award of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
- 2017 Kozo Tanabe Prize in Acid-Base Catalysis of the Acid-Base Group
- 2017 Xing Da Lectureship of Peking University
- 2018 Robert B. Anderson Award of the Canadian Catalysis Foundation
- 2019 Karl Ziegler Lectureship of the Max-Planck Institut für Kohlenforschung
- 2020 Charles Casey Lecturship Award in Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry of the University of Madison at Wisconsin
- 2022 Frontiers Award of the Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion
- 2023 Chemistry Europe Award
- 2024 Karl Wamsler Innovation Award of the Technical University of Munich
- 2025 Earl L. Muetterties Memorial Lectureship in Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley
- 2025 Vladimir Haensel Lectureship Award from Honeywell UOP
- 2025 Michel Boudart Award for the Advancement of Catalysis from the European Federation of Catalysis Societies and North American Catalysis Societies
Weckhuysen was the scientific director of the Dutch Research School for Catalysis (NIOK) in the period 2003-2013 and of a nation-wide Smartmix research program Biomass Catalysis funded by the Dutch government and chemical industries (CatchBio; 2007-2016; ~29 M€; www.catchbio.com). He also directed a national Gravitation research program on Multiscale Catalytic Energy Conversions (MCEC; 2013-2023; ~32 M€; www.mcec-researchcenter.nl) funded by the Dutch government. Currently, he is the scientific director of a nation-wide Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (ARC CBBC; 2016-2026; 11 M€/year, www.arc-cbbc.nl) with a joint investment by government, businesses and universities. He was (one of) the main initiator(s) of these large research program initiatives.
Weckhuysen is also:
- An elected member of the European Academy of Sciences (Academia Europaea, 2010-onwards), the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (KNAW, 2011-onwards), the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and Arts (KVAB, 2015-onwards); the Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation (ACTI, 2009-onwards) and the Royal Holland Society of Sciences (KHMW, 2010-onwards);
- An alumnus elected member of The Young Academy (DJA) of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (2005-2010);
- An elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC, 2007-onwards), American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS, 2015-onwards) and ChemPubSoc Europe (2015-onwards) & an Honorary Fellow of the Chinese Chemical Society (CCS, 2020-onwards).
He is a Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion (2015) and received a Certificate for Achievements of the Christoffel Plantin fund for his contributions to the prestige and appeal of Belgium in foreign countries from the Belgian Ambassador in the Netherlands (2018). In 2023, Weckhuysen also received honorary professorships from Tianjin University (Tianjin, China) and East China University of Science and Technology (Shanghai, China). In 2024, he obtained a honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa) from Ghent University (Ghent, Belgium) as well as a honorary professorship from the Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Wuhan, China). In 2025, Shanghai University (Shanghai, China) awarded him a honorary professorship and Antwerp University (Antwerp, Belgium) recognized him with the Francqui Chair.
Weckhuysen serves on many boards and panels for national and international research. For example, he has been president of the European Federation of Catalysis Societies (EFCATS; 2017-2023).
So far, 101 scientists have obtained their PhD degree from Utrecht University under the supervision of Bert Weckhuysen. In addition, Weckhuysen (co-) supervised one PhD student from KULeuven (Belgium), one PhD student from Technical University Eindhoven (TU/e, the Netherlands), three PhD students from University of Twente (the Netherlands) and two PhD students from Leiden University (the Netherlands). The current job assignments of the former PhD students have also been included in the first list below. Next to mentoring PhD students throughout their professional careers, Weckhuysen also have trained more than 80 postdoctoral fellows, of which many have now reached positions in industry, government and academia. The second list below includes the former postdoctoral fellows, of which their current job affiliation is known. 8 alumni of the group have become full professor, 6 are currenty associate professor, while 12 are working as assistant professor at various universities all over the world.
A. List of PhD Alumni:
108: Robin Vogel, postdoctoral researcher at Utrecht University
107: Jim de Ruiter, researcher at IFP Energies nouvelles
106: Joren Dorresteijn, product developer at Avient Protective Materials
105: Xuan Liu
104. Rafael Vos, researcher at Bosch Transmission Technology B.V.
103: Ellen Sterk
102: Thimo Jacobs, consultant data & AI at Triple A - Risk Finance
101: Christia Jabbour, postdoctoral researcher at Utrecht University
100: Rafael Mayorga Gonzalez, data scientist at LeydenJar
99: Kordula Schnabl
98: Florian Zand, Operations Chemist at Lonza
97: Michael Jenks, researcher energy transition at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
96: Huygen Jobsis, postdoctoral researcher at EPFL
95: Mark Mangnus, statistical researcher at Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
94: Sander Vonk, postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich
93: Shuang Yang, postdoctoral Researcher at Northwestern University
92: Iris ten Have: trained chemist turned VC investor at Visionaries Tomorrow
91: Luca Carnevale: technical sales engineer & business developer at DENSsolutions
90: Ahmed Ismail: technology manager at TechnipFMC
89. Max Werny: : Venture Associate at Zero Carbon Capitald
88. Silvia Zanoni: Research Chemist at Ioniqa Technologies
87. Erik Maris: Postdoctoral Fellow at ETH Zurich
86. Sophie van Vreeswijk: Project Leader at Avantium
85. Bas Terlingen: Technical Consultant Energy at Mott McDonald
84. Roozbeh Valadian: Sales Manager at Granutools
83. Thomas van Swieten: Quantitative Risk Analyst at ABN AMRO Bank
82. Nikos Nikolopoulos: Project Leader at Shell
81. Koen Bossers: Scientist Polyolefins Catalysis at Sabic
80. Maarten Jongkind: Software Engineer at Triodos Bank
79. Xinwei Ye: Postdoctoral Fellow at Utrecht University
78. Stijn Hinterding: Researcher at ASML
77. Guusje Delen: R&D Team Lead Capture Materials at Skytree
76. Laurens Mandemaker: Postdoctoral Fellow at Utrecht University
75. Suzanne Verkleij: Researcher Environmental Safety at Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)
74. Pasi Paalanen: Computational and Statistical Data Analyst
73. Katarina Stanciakova: Application Scientist at OpenEye
72. Anne-Eva Nieuwelink: Program Manager at Utrecht University
71. Beatriz Luna Murillo: Project Leader at Shell
70. Miguel Rivera Torrente: Project Leader at Shell
69. Charlotte Vogt: Assistant Professor at Technion
68. Jochem Wijten: Onderzoeker Omgevingsveiligheid at Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)
67. Donglong Fu: Associate Professor at Tianjin University
66. Jeroen van Vollenbroek: Postdoctoral Fellow at University Medical Center Utrecht
65. Katinka Wondergem: Assistant Professor at Nagoya University
64. Egor Fuvachev: Research Chemist at Ioniqa Technologies
63. Jose Moya Cancino: Lecturer at Universidad Finis Terrae
62. Ivan Garcia Torregrossa: Green Hydrogen Research Specialist at Sungrow Europe
61. Hai Le The: Surface Science Specialist at ASML
60. Marjolein Velthoen: Corporate Patent Councel at Avantium
59. Miguel Solsona: Postdoctoral Fellow at EPFL
58. Thomas Hartman: Research and Education Designer at Utrecht University & Scientific Illustrator at This
57. Robin Geitenbeek: Lecturer and Scientist Forensic Science at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
56. Ana Hernandez: Thermochemical Processes Scientist at Centro Nacional de Energías Renovables
55. Fang Liu: Research Engineer at TotalEnergies
54. Ozgun Attila: IT Operations Lead at Shell
53. Naresh Kumar: Senior Scientist and Lecturer at ETH Zurich
52. Joris Goetze: Patent Attorney at V.O. Patents & Trademarks
51. Zafer Ozturk: Research Data Steward at Twente University
50. Ramon Oord: Research Technician at Utrecht University
49. Frank Hendriks: Machine Learning Engineer at Eneco
48. William van der Graaff: Application Scientist at Corbion
47. Sam Kalirai: Engineering Manager at Mitra Chem
46. Zoran Ristanovic: Analytical Chemistry Expert at TMC Science & Technology
45. Robin Jastrebski: Process Engineer at Avantium
44. Korneel Cats: Research Scientist at Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)
43. Mustafa al Samarai: Senior Scientist at University of Tokyo
42. Dimitrije Cicmil: Global Lead for Process Review Teams at Grundfos
41. Joseph Stewart: Incubation Projects Manager at TotalEnergies
40. Matthijs de Winter: Teamleader at inHolland University of Applied Sciences
39. Carlo Angelici: Senior Scientist at Avantium
38. Sophie Wiedemann: Analytical Specialist at Cargill
37. Ilona van Zandvoort: Research Scientist at Avantium
36. Wenhao Luo: Full Professor at Inner Mongolia University
35. Evelien van Schrojenstein Lantman: Chief Operating Officer at Triply
34. Hendrik van der Bij: Global Business Manager at Ketjen Corporation
33. Jesper Sattler: R&D Project Manager at Eurotrol
32. Qingyun Qian: Research Scientist at ExxonMobil
31. Peter Spannring: Development Chemist at Indorama Ventures Europe
30. Dilek Boga: Business Development Executive at High Performance Compounds Kaucuk
29. Clare Harvey: Team Leader and Project Manager Circular Plastics at TNO
28. Annelie Jongerius: Technology Manager at Avantium
27. Upakul Deka: Scientific and Management Expert in Chemicals, Catalysis, Circular Economy & Sustainability at Shell
26. Peter Hausoul: Group Leader at RWTH Aachen University
25. Luis Aramburo Corrales: Chemical Engineer at BeePlanet Factory
24. Inge Buurmans: Research Scientist at Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)
23. Davide Mores: Business Developer Chemistry & Explosion Safety at TNO
22. Bart Hereijgers: Business Manager Custom Catalysts at Euro Support
21. Lukasz Karwacki: New Business Development and Sustainability Manager at BASF
20. Nadya Beznis: Logistics Support Desk Supervisor at Nouryon
19. Emiel de Smit: Staff Scientist at ExxonMobil
18. Peter de Peinder: Founder and Scientist at VibSpec
17. Marianne Kox: New Fuels Projects Team Leader at Shell
16. Leticia Espinosa Alonso: Head of Consumer Biosolutions Digital at Novozymes
15. Muriel Lepage: Program Manager at Toyota
14. Elena Parvulescu: Global Innovation Manager Monomers Division at BASF
13. Ingmar Swart: Associate Professor at Utrecht University
12. Alwies van der Heijden: Founder and Consultant at Techem Consultancy
11. Daniel Radu: Planning Engineer at TotalEnergies
10. Jaap Bergwerff: Research Director at Ketjen
9. Pieter Bruijnincx: Full Professor at Utrecht University
8. Joost van Lingen: Senior Program Manager & Product Team Leader at TNO
7. Cristina Nenu: CO2 Capture & Utilization Portfolio Manager at Shell
6. Daphne Keller: Chemistry & Physics Teacher at Korenaer
5. Stan Tinnemans: QA Head Benelux at GSK
4. Fernando Morales: R&D Manager at Haldor Topsoe
3. Gerbrand Mesu: Senior Scientist at Phillips 66
2. Willem Heijboer: Senior Scientist at Tata Steel
1. Pieter van der Avert: General Manager at Scaldis SMC
B. List of Postdoctoral Fellow Alunni:
1. Bettina Baumgartner (2021-2023), Assistant Professor at University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
2. Yaqi Wu (2020-2023), Associate Research Fellow at the Ningbo Institute of New Materials Technology & Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)
3. Nina Genz (2020-2022), Beamline Scientist at Swiss Light Source (Switzerland)
4. Matteo Monai (2019-2021), Assistant Professor at Utrecht University (the Netherlands)
5. Ina Vollmer (2019-2021), Assistant Professor at Utrecht University (the Netherlands)
6. Luke Parker (2019-2021), Scientist at TNO (The Netherlands)
7. Hongyu An (2019-2022), Performance Engineer at ASML (The Netherlands)
8. Jiadong Xiao (2018-2019), Assistant Professor at Shinshu University (Japan)
9. Shiyou Xing (2018-2020), Assistant Professor at the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)
10. Robert Geitner (2018-2020), Assistant Professor at Technical University Ilmenau (Germany)
11. Kang Cheng (2017-2020), Associate Professor at Xiamen University (China)
12. Mario De bruyn (2017-2020), Deputy Director at the Circa Renewable Energy Centre of the University of York (UK)
13. Yuanshuai Liu (2017-2019), Full Professor at Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)
14. Marianna Gambino (2017-2020), Senior Research Specialist at Dow (the Netherlands
15. Guangxian Pei (2016-2017), Associate Professor at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)
16. Beatriz Seoane de la Cuesta (2016-2019), Technical Project Lead at ASML (the Netherlands)
17. Jamal Ftouni (2014-2016), Head of Market Development and Innovation at Omya International (Switzerland)
18. Paul Pletcher (2016-2019), Scientist at Clariant (USA)
19. Joel Schmidt (2015-2018), Fluid Catalytic Cracking Technology Team Engineer at Chevron (USA)
20. Matthias Filez (2015-2019), Postdoctoral Fellow at KULeuven-Ghent University (Belgium)
21. Leila Negahdar (2015-2017), Assistant Professor at University College Dublin (Ireland)
22. Abhishek Dutta Chowdhury (2014-2018), Assistant Professor at Wuhan University (China)
23. Ines Lezcano-González (2014-2016), Research Associate at University College London & Diamond Light Source (UK)
24. Sang-Ho Chung (2014-2017), Research Scientist at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia)
25. Ara Muñoz-Murillo (2014-2016), S.I. Inspector SOIVRE at Provincial Directorate of Commerce of Cádiz (Spain)
26. Sandra Constant (2014-2016), Scientist at Avantium (the Netherlands)
27. Jan Falkenhagen (2014-2016), Process Analyzer Technology Engineering at Covestro (Germany)
28. Marleen Kerssens (2013-2014), Chemistry Teacher at Arte College (the Netherlands).
29. Javier Ruiz-Martinez (2013-2015), Assistant Professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia)
30. Homer Genuino (2013-2017), Senior Scientist at NTCP (the Netherlands)
31. Gareth Whiting (2012-2015), Scientific Program Manager at National Science Foundation (Ireland)
32. Christoph Sprung (2012-2013), Research Consultant at VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH (Germany)
33. Elena Borodina (2012-2015), Technical Sales of Catalysts and Adsorbents at BASF (France)
34. Fiona Kirby (2012-2014), R&D Manager at WaterWipes (Ireland)
35. Meenakshisundaram Sankar (2011-2013), Lecturer at Cardiff University (UK)
36. Jan Philipp Hofmann (2011-2013), Full Professor at TU Darmstadt (Germany)
37. Emma Gibson (2011-2012), Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow (UK)
38. Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez (2009-2010), Associate Director & Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky (USA)
39. Matthijs Zandbergen (2009-2011), Head of Strategic Partnerships at IMEC (Belgium)
40. Satu Korhonen (2008-2010), General Manager Products & Catalyst Systems at Wartsila (Finland)
41. Andrei Parvulescu (2008-2011), Global Technology Manager Monomers at BASF (Germany)
42. Regina Palkovits (2007-2007), Full Professor at RWTH Aachen University (Germany)
43. Ana Iglesias-Juez (2007-2009), Group Leader at the Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (Spain)
44. Ana Mijovilovich (2006-2009), Research Scientist at Biologické centrum AV CR, v.v.i.
45. Eli Stavitski (2006-2009), Senior Scientist at Brookhaven National Laboratory (USA)
46. Simona Bennici (2006-2006), Research Director at CNRS (France)
47. Agnieszka Ruppert (2005-2008), Full Professor at Lodz University of Technology (Poland)
48. Bas Vogelaar (2005-2005), Digitalization Expert at Ketjen Corporation (the Netherlands)
49. Virginie Belliere-Baca (2004-2005), Senior Vice-President & Global Head of Technology and Innovation at Sulzer
50. Olga Manoilova (2004-2005), Research Scientist at Clariant (Germany)
51. Andy Beale (2004-2008), Full Professor at University College London (UK)
52. Leon van de Water (2003-2005), Principal Scientist at Johnson Matthey (UK)
53. Yaying Ji (2002-2003), Scientist at Baxter Healthcare (USA)
54. Didier Grandjean (2002-2005), Senior Researcher at KULeuven (Belgium)
55. Pieter Glatzel (2002-2004), Group Head at European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (France)
56. Xander Nijhuis (2002-2006), Chief Scientist at Sabic (the Netherlands)
57. Riikka Puurunen (2000-2001), Associate Professor at Aalto University (Finland)
58. Weibin Fan (1999-2001), Full Professor & Director at the Institute of Coal Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)