University Chemistry Foundations

Dr. ir. Volkert van Steijn is an Associate Professor at Delft University of Technology, where he leads a research group focused on developing lab-on-a-chip and organ-on-a-chip technologies. His work aims to address challenges in health and life sciences by leveraging expertise in fluid dynamics and transport phenomena at the microscale.

Dr. Rienk Eelkema is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Delft University of Technology, where he leads a research group focused on developing interactive organic and polymer materials. His work spans fundamental chemistry to applied biomedical research, with a particular emphasis on creating responsive soft materials.

Dr. ir. Robin de Kruijff is an Assistant Professor at the Reactor Institute Delft of Delft University of Technology, where she leads research on developing radionuclides for medical applications. Her work focuses on three main areas: developing new production routes for radionuclides using nuclear reactors, investigating their potential as radiopharmaceuticals for cancer therapy, and using radiotracers to study the bioavailability and metabolism of essential minerals.

Cristiano Glessi serves as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Imaging Physics at TU Delft's Faculty of Applied Sciences, where he combines cutting-edge research in materials development with innovative education initiatives. After completing his PhD in chemistry at the University of Oslo, where he specialized in volatile organometallic complexes, he has focused his research on developing new materials and strategies for 3D nanofabrication using electron-based methods. His current role is split between research innovation and education, teaching in the Applied Physics bachelor program and contributing to the Pre-University Chemistry MOOC. His passion for education is evident in his commitment to helping students transition from high school to university, particularly in materials chemistry and nanofabrication. Through his work, he aims to build students' confidence in their scientific and technical capabilities while advancing the field of electron-based nanofabrication and materials development. His expertise spans organometallic chemistry, nanofabrication techniques, and materials chemistry, making him a valuable bridge between advanced research and educational innovation at TU Delft.