Michiel Dorrepaal

After completing my bachelor's degree in applied physics in 1996, I continued my studies in mechanical engineering (MSc) at Delft University of Technology. My first job during my studies at Delft University of Technology was at Technobis, where I worked in a small team designing scanners for non-destructive testing.

After graduating from Delft University of Technology in 2001, I started working at TNO in the control engineering department. My projects were diverse, ranging from designing rehabilitation robots to developing optical delay lines for space applications. In 2005, I moved to a family-owned chemical company, where I also began studying analytical chemistry at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Initially, I managed laboratory operations, and after completing my studies in 2008, I took on additional responsibilities, including overseeing production, including regulatory compliance and quality control.

After eight years in that position, I decided to move on and joined VDL ETG in 2013 as a system architect for wafer handlers, a module of the ASML machine. In 2022, I moved to VDL Hydrogen Systems, where I currently lead a development team focused on designing alkaline electrolyzers. We are actively working on scaling up this design.

In my previous job, I realized how important materials are for the energy transition (sometimes even called the materials transition). I am interested in catalytic materials, corrosion-resistant materials, polymers used in the energy transition, as well as design for production and recyclability.