Professor Bert Weckhuysen stands as a preeminent authority in catalytic chemistry and sustainable energy conversion research. He currently holds the distinguished position of University Professor of Catalysis, Energy and Sustainability at Utrecht University, having been promoted to this highest academic rank in January 2018 following his appointment as the Faculty of Science's first Distinguished Professor in September 2012. Born in Aarschot, Belgium on July 27, 1968, he earned his Master's degree with greatest distinction in Chemical and Agricultural Engineering from Leuven University in 1991 before completing his PhD cum laude at the same institution in 1995. After conducting postdoctoral research in the United States, he returned to academia and was appointed Full Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis at Utrecht University in October 2000 at the remarkably young age of 32.
Professor Weckhuysen's pioneering research has fundamentally advanced the scientific understanding of heterogeneous catalysis through innovative multiscale approaches that bridge molecular-level insights with industrial applications. His exceptionally productive scholarly output encompasses approximately 780 peer-reviewed publications with extraordinary impact, evidenced by an average of 80 citations per paper and a remarkable Hirsch index of 122 as documented in September 2025. His visionary leadership extends to major research initiatives including direction of the Multiscale Catalytic Energy Conversions program (2013-2023), a €32 million national Gravitation research program funded by the Dutch government that established new paradigms for catalytic energy conversion. Currently, he serves as scientific director of the Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium, a decade-long initiative with annual funding of €11 million representing a strategic partnership between government, industry, and academia to develop sustainable chemical processes.
The exceptional significance of Professor Weckhuysen's scientific contributions has been recognized through numerous prestigious accolades, most notably the Spinoza Prize in 2013, often regarded as the Dutch equivalent of the Nobel Prize for his transformative work on catalysis. His research excellence has been further validated by securing multiple high-impact grants including consecutive ERC Advanced (2012) and Proof-of-Concept (2019) awards from the European Research Council alongside multiple NWO VICI, TOP, and GRAVITATION grants. Ghent University honored him with an honorary doctorate in recognition of his exceptional scientific achievements, while the Belgian Ambassador presented him with a Certificate for Achievements from the Christoffel Plantin fund. As a Comenius Senior Fellow, he continues to innovate in interdisciplinary education while leading transformative research that bridges fundamental chemistry with practical solutions for sustainable energy conversion and chemical production.
