PhD
Tom Bruining
Tom Bruining PhD, 9th January 2023
Tom Bruining is a chemical engineer with a master’s degree in molecular systems and materials chemistry from the Eindhoven University of Technology. He is interested in creating liquid crystal based stimuli responsive surfaces that can change their texture to provide haptic feedback. These surfaces have applications in virtual reality and augmented reality systems to provide an improved sense of touch. A fun fact about Tom is that he often makes his own gifts out of wood.
Current Projects
Samuël A. M. (Sam) Weima
Samuël A. M. (Sam) Weima PhD, 9th of January 2023
Sam Weima obtained his masters degree in chemical engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology. He is interested in device integration and exploring new ideas with interdisciplinary cooperation. He is currently occupied with applying machine learning to the development of interactive materials. A fun fact about Sam is that he once voluntarily went 2 years without wearing a jacket, just to make a point.
Current Projects
Vincent van der Doef
Vincent van der Doef PhD, 1st October 2022
I’m Vincent van der Doef and I have started my PhD here at ECO and HIM since 17 October. I studied Molecular Life sciences at Wageningen University where I finished my master thesis working on 3D-printed micropatterned surfaces. I also did my internship in Hokkaido University in Sapporo on hierarchical Macroscale double-network composite structures. For my PhD I will work on Programmable lenses for optical wireless communications assisted by liquid crystal elastomers which will be used in the Beam-steered Reconfigurable Optical-wireless System for Energy-efficient communication project. I also used to write short fables and horror stories for my student association.
Current Projects
Programmable lenses with liquid crystal elastomers
Dugya Polat
Duygu Polat PhD,1st of August 2021
Duygu is a chemical engineer with a M.Sc. from Middle East Technical University, Turkey. She is interested in developing liquid crystal actuators which can apply force in a rapid manner. Fast responses can be accessed by designing instabilities into liquid crystal actuators Her project is a part of the STORM-BOTs initiative aiming to train next generation researchers in the field of soft robotics. A fun fact about Duygu is that her favorite artist is David Bowie.
Current Projects
Mert Orhan Astam
Mert Orhan Astam PhD, 1st of July 2021
Mert O. Astam is a materials scientist and engineering with an MEng from Imperial College London. He is interested in turning liquid crystal materials into electrically driven devices, seeking to extract the benefits to society of this technology. He has recently shown the intelligence of soft robots in his latest paper “Self-regulating electrical rhythms with liquid crystal oligomer networks in hybrid circuitry”. His project is a part of the STORM-BOTs initiative and he is collaborating with colleagues in Spain, Finland, Italy, Germany and the UK. A fun fact about Mert is that he used to work at a chocolate factory!
Current Projects
Jacques Peixoto
Jacques Peixoto PhD, 1st April 2021
Jacques Azevedo Peixoto obtained his master’s degree in nanotechnology and telecommunication from Ecole Normal Superieur, France. He is interested in the bottom-to-top assembly in liquid crystal to broaden the library of possibilities and increase the impact of such material. He is currently occupying tuning boundary conditions and/or using external stimuli such as sounds or electrical fields to create beautiful and promising patterns. A fun fact about Jacques is that he could hand walk better than using his feet.
Current Projects
Yuxin You
Yuxin You TU/e Guest Researcher, 01-09-2020
Yuxin You is a materials researcher with a master’s degree in optical engineering. She is interested in developing smart coatings made of liquid crystal polymers that can generate predesigned topographies at the coating surfaces reversibly. These dynamic surfaces are anticipated to benefit many functions in the fields of optics, haptics, robotics, etc. A fun fact about Yuxin is that she always likes to invite friends to try out her cooking!
Current Projects
Dongyu Zhang
Dongyu Zhang PhD, 1st February 2021
Dongyu Zhang obtained her Mater degree in University of Science and Technology of China, majoring in applied chemistry. She is interested in stimuli responsive liquid crystal materials for liquid secretion.
By mimicking the natural liquid secretion phenomenon, smart liquid crystal polymeric materials can be made for robotic application such as “pick and place” or “chemical communication”. Her position is funded by China Scholarship Council. A fun fact about Dongyu is that she can “self-control” the motion of her ears.
