Introducing our new scientific staff member Tom Sleutels

We are happy to announce that Dr. Tom Sleutels recently joined ENTEG. Tom Sleutels will spend half of his working time at the University of Groningen, and will combine this with his current research position at Wetsus, the European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology that promotes innovation by linking scientific research with company interest through a multidisciplinary approach. Through this shared appointment the collaboration and research at both institutes will be intensified.

Tom Sleutels will work in the Products and Processes for Biotechnology group, led by prof. Gert-Jan Euverink. His research will focus on new biotechnological and electrochemical processes for the recovery of nutrients and energy and the production of valuable compounds. He is very much interested in getting to know the research at RUG and the people who are involved and always open to discuss ideas from other disciplines and possible collaborations.

Tom Sleutels obtained both his bachelors and master’s degree in bioprocess technology from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Afterwards he continued at the same university with his PhD research but changed to the department of environmental technology. His PhD research focused on the bioelectrochemical conversion of organic material in wastewater into electric current which was used to produce hydrogen gas. This research was executed at Wetsus in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.

After his PhD, Tom Sleutels stayed at Wetsus to continue his research on (bio)electrochemical systems for the recovery of nutrients and energy. Over the last years his interest has broadened to other environmental biotechnological applications. He has been involved in the coordination and research of several EU projects.