dr.ir. S.J.A. de Beer (Sissi)

Given names:	Sissi J.A.
Academic titles:	dr. ir.
Birth date and place:	1979, Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands
Present function:	Associate professor in Sustainable Polymer Chemistry
	Program director of Applied Physics

Bibliography

Dr. Sissi de Beer obtained her Ph.D. degree at the University of Twente. After postdoctoral fellowships at the Forschungszentrum in Jülich and the University of Toronto, she is now an associate professor at the University of Twente. In her research, Sissi combines molecular modeling with laboratory experiments to design functional polymer surfaces for application in lubrication, sensing, and molecular separations. Since April 2022, Sissi is also the program director of Applied Physics.

Professional Experience

2022–Present	Program director BSc TN* and MSc AP* (0.6 fte)
	Associate professor in Sustainable Polymer Chemistry (0.4 fte)
	Department of Molecules and Materials, University of Twente (UT)
	Program director BSc TN* and MSc AP* (0.6 fte)
2016–2022	Assistant professor Materials Science and Technology of Polymers/
	Sustainable Polymer Chemistry (UT)
2015–2016	Postdoc Walker Lab, University of Toronto (Canada)
2013–2016	Research associate Materials Science and Technology of Polymers (UT)
2011–2013	Postdoctoral fellow Jülich Supercomputing Center, Jülich (Germany)
2003–2004	Management-trainee, Glaverbel Nederland, Tiel

Education

2011	Doctor of Philosophy, Thesis: ‘Probing the Properties of Confined Liquids’, Physics of Complex Fluids, University of Twente, Enschede
2007	Master of Science, Applied Physics, University of Twente, Enschede

Acknowledgements

NOW TTW Perspectief awarded for RECoVR: Recovery and Circularity of Valuable Resources (2021)
KIJK Top Tech Ideas for eNose for the early detection of potato rot (2019)
HiTMaT Technology Award for eNose in early detection of animal diseases (2019)
Alembic Teacher of Year award (2019)

Research Grants

NWO, 300k, KIC Key Enabling Technologies ELECTRIFIED (total project value ~2000k), 1 PhD (2022)
NWO TTW OTP, 300k, Advanced Grease Lubrication, 1 PhD (2022)
NWA ORC OBSeRVeD, 400k, national consortium (total ~5000k), 3yr postdoc (2022)
DFG Schwerpunktprogramm, 3 yr postdoc (together with Jacco Snoeijer) (2022)
NWO TTW Perspectief, 5000k, ReCoVR, national consortium 50% UT groups (6 PhD, 4 PDs, 5 PDEngs => 2.5 PhD in my team). (2021)
TKI food NIZO, 120k, astringency of plant proteins, 1 PDEng (2020)
4TU.HTM, 9k, seed funding for Perspectief grant (2020)
UT-WWU collaboration, 80k, 1yr postdoc (together with Jacco Snoeijer) (2019)
NWO ENW Open Competition Klein-1, 350k, 1 PhD + 1 junior researcher (2019)
NWO, 300k, TA Soft Advanced Materials, 1 PhD (2019)
Holland High Tech, 25k, HiTMaT award, seed funding for eNose research (2019)
MESA+ innovation grant, 72k, 1 postdoc (2017)
FOM/v, 300k, personal grant (2013)

Academic Activities

Teaching (current)

2022-Present	Lecturer: Dynamics + Special Relativity (TN)
2022-Present	Lecturer: Preparation Bachelor Assignment (TN)
2018-Present	Main Lecturer: Molecular Modelling (CSE, Nano)
2018-Present	Main Lecturer: Statistical Thermodynamics (CSE)
2016-Present	Main Lecturer: Polymer Physics (CSE, Nano, AP)
2013-Present	Lecturer: Organic Material Science (CSE, Nano)

Teaching (previous)

2016-2019	Lecturer: Statistical Physics (TN)
2013-2015	Lecturer: Polymer Physics (CSE)
2017	Tutor: Physical Modelling (TN & AT)
2016-2018	Coach: Project Thermodynamics (TN & AT)
2014	Coach: Project Chemistry of Sports (CSE)
2017-2021	Coach: Project Chemistry of Food (CSE)

Supervision (since2015)
- 3 postdocs,
- 12 PhD students (6 finished, 6 ongoing),
- 27 CSE* and Nano* master students (25 finished, 2 ongoing),
- 23 undergraduate / visiting students
- 30 CSE*, TN* and Nano* interns at various international companies and institutes

Prizes students
- Leon Smook won the KNCV Golden Master Award (1^st place) and Unilever Award (2022)
- Rens Horst and Rick Cohen won the Holland Chemistry Student Award (2^nd place) (2019)
- Aram Klaassen and Bart Stel won the NNV Bachelor Contest (2^nd place) (2010)

Organizational Responsibilities

2021–Present	Programme manager NWO Perspectief program ReCoVR
2021–Present	Editorial Advisory Board ACS journal Langmuir
2020–Present	Board member YA@UT
2019–Present	Program coordinator ‘Alternative Driving Forces Forces’ in
	‘Industrial Fluid Processing’ cluster of ISPT (Institute for Sustainable
	Process Technologies)
2021–2022	Member Programme Committee (OLC) of CSE*
2020–2022	Member Shaping 2030 Expert Team on Sustainability
2019–2022	Track coordinator Molecules and Materials Engineering (CSE)
2017–2022	Mentor for BSc CSE students Chemical Engineering
2019	Co-organiser ICBZM conference, Rolduc, Kerkrade
2015–2019	Initiator and organizer of the UT Soft Matter day
2013–2019	Initiator and organizer of the Soft Matter+ colloquium series
2011–2012	Assistant in organization Lorentz Workshop: ‘Fundamental Aspect of
	Friction and Lubrication’
2010	Assistant in organization Dutch Nanofluidics Days

Engineering & Materials Science

# Brushes
# Friction
# Polymers
# Polymethyl Methacrylates

Chemistry

# Force
# Polymer Brush

Physics & Astronomy

# Brushes
# Polymers

In my research, I translate fundamental polymer physics models to technological applications. My students and I study the properties of functional polymer surfaces. These coatings can be employed in advanced sensor platforms and in separation technologies that enable the transition to a circular economy.

Gamaniel, S. S., Dueñas Robles, P. S., Tromp, H., de Hoog, E. H. A. , de Beer, S. , & van der Heide, E. (2024). A tribo-chemical view on astringency of plant-based food substances. Friction. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-023-0812-0

Smook, L. A. , & Beer, S. D. (2024). Electrical Chain Rearrangement: What Happens When Polymers in Brushes Have a Charge Gradient? Langmuir, 40(8), 4142–4151. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03127

Veldscholte, L. B. , Snoeijer, J. H. , den Otter, W. K. , & de Beer, S. (2024). Pressure Anisotropy in Polymer Brushes and Its Effects on Wetting. Langmuir, 40(8), 4401-4409. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03727

Brio Perez, M. (2024). A Journey Towards Responsive and Circular Polymer Brushes: Design and Applications. [PhD Thesis - Research UT, graduation UT, University of Twente]. University of Twente. https://doi.org/10.3990/1.9789036559805

Diepenbroek, E. , Pérez, M. B. , & de Beer, S. (2023). PNIPAM Brushes in Colloidal Photonic Crystals Enable Ex Situ Ethanol Vapor Sensing. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 6(1), 870-878. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.3c02397

Kyriakou, N., Boorsma, E., Aardema, G. J. , Ritsema van Eck, G., Drobek, M. , de Beer, S. , Nijmeijer, A. , Winnubst, L. , & Pizzoccaro-Zilamy, M. A. (2023). Hybrid ceramic nanofiltration membranes prepared by impregnation and solid-state grafting of organo-phosphonic acids. Journal of membrane science, 687, Article 122041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2023.122041

Ma, X., Albertsma, J., Gabriels, D., Horst, R., Polat, S., Snoeks, C., Kapteijn, F., Eral, H. B. , Vermaas, D. A. , Mei, B. , de Beer, S., & van der Veen, M. A. (2023). Carbon monoxide separation: past, present and future. Chemical Society reviews, 52, 3741-3777. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3cs00147d

Heinz, H., Joshi, Y. M., Zeng, H., Tsao, H. K. , de Beer, S. J. A., Koos, E., Takahara, A., & Walker, G. C. (2023). 2023 Highlights in Interface Science and Engineering: A Collection of Virtual Special Issues. Langmuir, 39(31), 10711-10714. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01562

Brió Pérez, M. , Hempenius, M. A. , de Beer, S. , & Wurm, F. R. (2023). Polyester Brush Coatings for Circularity: Grafting, Degradation, and Repeated Growth. Macromolecules, 56(21), 8856–8865. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.3c01601

Smook, L. A. , & de Beer, S. (2023). Electrostatic Fields Stimulate Absorption of Small Neutral Molecules in Gradient Polyelectrolyte Brushes. ChemPhysChem, 24(9), Article e202300003. https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202300003

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I am the program director of Applied Physics (AP). In this role, it is my aim to ensure that AP stays the top programme is currently is. Within AP we train high-quality professionals within a strong community of students, staff and teachers, in which we facilitate that everyone can bring out the best out of themselves.

Bachelor

Master

Chemical Science & Engineering

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