Dr Angela Siegel

Dr. Angela Siegel (468 x 468)

Dr Angela Siegel

Angela has been working as Manager R&D Shaped Carriers at the Sasol site in Brunsbuettel for more than seven years. In this position, she is mainly responsible for customer-oriented research and development of catalyst carriers. As part of CARE-O-SENE, she contributes her know-how for the development of innovative carriers together with the local team. In addition, she acts as the on-site contact person for the research project.

Angela compares catalyst carriers to the fundament of a house. While often overlooked, they are a crucial component needed for most chemical reactions and processes.

Position

Co-Lead Sasol, Manager R&D Shaped Carriers

Company

Sasol Germany GmbH

Areas of Expertise

Angela has developed expertise in the areas of alumina-based catalyst carriers at Sasol. Previously, she worked at Engelhard/BASF, where she led the development of spherical silica gels used as adsorbents and catalyst carriers. With her in-depth knowledge, Angela is ideally placed to meet the objectives of the CARE-O-SENE research project: The optimisation and development of different types of catalyst carriers in order to achieve the overarching purpose of decarbonising global aviation.

Angela studied chemistry and did her PhD at the Institute of Technical Chemistry at the University of Hanover.

"Successful research only works in diverse teams and with the possibilities to test ideas. I am pleased that through large-scale projects as CARE-O-SENE or the new research center, our Brunsbuettel site will make an important contribution."
Dr Angela Siegel
Manager R&D Shaped Carrier

Dr Denzil Moodley

Dr Denzil Moodley

Denzil is a senior scientist in the Fischer-Tropsch group at Sasol’s Research & Technology Science Research department in Sasolburg. 

He is also the Work Package 3 leader for large-scale catalyst production and testing. 

He is passionate about commercializing catalytic processes for sustainable chemical and fuels using green feedstocks, focusing on topics such as CO2 hydrogenation and Power-to-X.

Position

Co-Lead Sasol, Senior Scientist

Company

Sasol Limited

Areas of Expertise

Denzil has over 20 years of experience in fundamental and applied catalysis, process chemistry and R&D. His earlier work involved unraveling the complex interplay of catalyst deactivation under realistic industrial conditions using industry-academia collaboration. He has delivered several technology packages, notably on catalyst regeneration as well as provided operations support for commercial GTL & CTL facilities. Denzil has published widely on the topic of Fischer-Tropsch catalysis.

He has been the scientific lead for several critical R&D projects that involved understanding, developing and scaling-up of more efficient Cobalt and Iron Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. In CARE-O-SENE, he will utilize his expertise to enable the translation of fundamental knowledge into practical insight and application. Denzil holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands.

"The holistic approach taken in the consortium using real life catalysts, model systems, theory and modelling will accelerate the understanding and deployment of PtL catalysts for SAF production."
Dr Denzil Moodley
Senior Scientist

Dr. Catalina E. Jiménez (HZB)

Dr. Catalina E. Jiménez

Catalina is a Research Group Leader at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin responsible for applied catalysis research in the Energy Materials In-Situ Laboratory. Catalina leads the Work Package 1 in the CARE-O-SENE project. One aspect of this work package is the development of thin film catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch Technology that is driven by the HZB team. Furthermore, she coordinates the synchrotron-based characterization approaches of HZB at the BESSY II Light Source for Work Package 2 and transfers the knowledge for the design and development of thin-film based micro-channel reactors in Work Package 3.

Position

Research Group Leader
Department Interface Design

Company

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin

Areas of Expertise

Catalina has several years of experience combining synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopies, scattering and imaging methods. Related to the CARE-O-SENE project dedicated deposition chambers for synthesis as well as high-pressure Fischer-Tropsch reaction chambers for testing have been set up. These tools allow to generate highly innovative thin-film catalysts (Cat 4) and distinguish surface from bulk phenomena with elemental specificity during chemical reactions using synchrotron light. The goal of this subproject is to fabricate robust and stable catalysts minimizing the use of raw materials.

Catalina organizes the HZB Photon School, which contributes to the CARE-O-SENE mentoring programme, and is also an active mentor within the program.

She has a PhD in engineering science from TU Berlin, Germany, and studied physics and materials science in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Dr. Anna Zimina (KIT)

Dr Anna Zimina

Anna has been working as senior scientist at KIT for more than ten years. Leading the group “Catalysis at KIT Light Source” at the Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology, she is responsible for operation of the CATACT beamline at KIT Light Source and the support of the in-house research in the field of catalysis. 

With the local team and as part of CARE-O-SENE she contributes with her know-how for the advance characterization of the industrially relevant catalytic materials. 

She also leads Work Package 2 of the research project and is a member of the Steering Committee.

Position

Senior Scientist

Company

Karlsruhe Institut für Technologie

Areas of Expertise

Anna has developed expertise in advanced X-ray based characterization methods at Forschungszentrum Jülich, BESSY II and KIT. With her in-depth knowledge, Anna is ideally positioned to achieve the goals of the CARE-O-SENE research project: the development and implementation of hard and soft X-ray spectroscopy and imaging characterization methods on real catalysts under industrially relevant conditions.

Anna studied physics and received her PhD from the Technical University of Berlin.

"Steady growing expertise of KIT in the field of catalysis research will significantly contribute to the success of CARE-O-SENE project. The KIT team will gain a deeper understanding of Fischer-Tropsch catalysts from atomic level up to large scale production and bridge the gap between academia and industry approaching the green future."
Dr Anna Zimina
Senior Scientist

Dr Tobias Sontheimer

Dr Tobias Sontheimer

Tobias is the head of Strategy Department for Energy and Information at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and co-leader of the CARE-O-SENE project. For the past fifteen years, Tobias has worked in strategy development to reshape the energy sector. At HZB, he is currently driving research and technology development in the field of solar energy and green hydrogen-based technologies.

Position

Head of Strategy Department for Energy and Information at HZB

Co-Lead CARE-O-SENE Project

Company

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin

Areas of Expertise

His profound technological and systemic understanding of the energy sector is key for successful strategy development and project management. He has extensive experience in collaborating with stakeholders in academia, industry, and politics. Previously, Tobias was the Chief Research Manager for the national energy R&D portfolio of the Helmholtz association.

He is very passionate about forming new international innovative partnerships in the energy field that facilitate the transition to a carbon-free sustainable future.

Tobias studied physics at RWTH Aachen University and Harvard University and graduated with a PhD in renewable energy technologies as a scholar of SCHOTT AG.

Such fundamental analyses of the Fischer-Tropsch process – like in the CARE-O-SENE project – are completely new. Therefore, we are optimistic that we will reach our goal by 2025 and the dream of climate-neutral flying will become tangible.
Dr Tobias Sontheimer
Head of Strategy Department for Energy and Information

Dr. Muhammad Hamid Raza (HZB)

Dr. Muhammad Hamid Raza

Hamid is a postdoctoral scientist in the Thin‑Film Catalysts and Reactors Group at PVcomB, Helmholtz‑Zentrum Berlin (HZB). With more than ten years of experience in thin‑film process development—particularly in atomic layer deposition (ALD)—he currently focuses on designing and optimizing thin‑film catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, employing PECVD, ALD, and PVD technologies within the CARE‑O‑SENE project.

Position

Postdoctural Scientist

Company

 Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin

Areas of Expertise

Hamid’s expertise spans thin‑film technologies for catalysis, chemical sensing, and nanoelectronics, with a strong focus on conformal thin‑film deposition on planar and high‑aspect‑ratio 3D structures using ALD and PE(CVD) to create advanced catalytic materials. He completed his doctoral research at Humboldt‑Universität zu Berlin, where he developed functionalized thin‑films heterostructures for energy and environmental applications, extensively employing ALD alongside conventional synthesis methods. He later worked as a postdoctoral scientist at the Institute of Functional Oxides for Energy‑Efficient IT at HZB.

Prof. Marcus Bär

Prof. Marcus Bär

Marcus Bär is a professor and leading scientist in the field of X-ray spectroscopy and advanced materials characterization for renewable energy applications. He is affiliated with the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, the Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg für Erneuerbare Energien, and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.

Position

Professor & Leading Scientist

Company

 Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin

Areas of Expertise

Marcus Bär is a renowned researcher in advanced materials characterization, photoelectron spectroscopy, and synchrotron-based analytics for sustainable energy technologies. His work connects interdisciplinary research activities at HI ERN and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, with a focus on photovoltaics, catalysis related materials research, electrochemical energy conversion, and operando investigations of functional materials. He contributes to the development and application of cutting-edge X-ray and electron spectroscopy methods, particularly at EMIL @ BESSY II, to improve the efficiency, stability, and understanding of energy-related materials and devices.

"Practice makes perfect."
Prof. Marcus Bär
Professor & Leading Scientist

Dr. Toine Cents (Sasol Limited)

Dr Toine Cents

Toine is responsible for the Engineering & Research part of Sasol Holding in the Netherlands. Further to this he is the project leader of Work Package 4 of the CARE-O-SENE catalyst development consortium, which deals with:

  • The Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Power to Liquids and the impact of an improved catalyst in particular
  • The Techno-economics of Power to Liquids and the impact of an improved catalyst
  • The Regeneration of the newly developed catalyst and its impact on LCA
  • The work-up of the Fischer-Tropsch products in order to maximise the yield of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Position

Senior Manager Engineering Research Netherlands

Company

Sasol Limited

Areas of Expertise

Toine has a long track record within Sasol Research and Technology in different engineering and management roles. He is focused on fundamental understanding, leading to development and improvement of process technology. He holds, amongst others, expertise in (Fischer-Tropsch) Reactor Technology, CO2 capture and Techno-Economic optimization. 

Toine holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Twente, the Netherlands.

"It is great contributing to Sasol’s road towards a more sustainable future by being part of the development of new processes and technology."
Dr Toine Cents
Senior Manager Engineering Research Netherlands

Dr.-Ing. Tim Boeltken (INERATEC)

Dr.-Ing. Tim Boeltken

Tim Boeltken (PhD) is CEO and co-founder of INERATEC and combines science and industry expertise with business skills. Being a Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) educated chemical engineer, he has worked in the field of hydrogen production, catalysis, and petrochemistry. He has been awarded with the Peter-und-Luise-Hager prize for the best PhD at KIT, as well as Business Punk ”Top 100 Innovators in Germany”.

Position

Founder & Managing Director

Company

INERATEC

Areas of Expertise

Tim has worked as project leader in the chemical industry at hte GmbH, before he founded INERATEC in 2015. He brings years of market and technology intelligence, sales and executive management to help successfully lead INERATEC.

His life goal is to be the driver towards climate neutrality. Projects like CARE-O-SENE that leverage the impact of a technological solution and promote the availability of sustainable aviation fuel.

Tim holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany.

"INERATEC is a pioneer in the field of power-to-liquid applications. With the project partners in CARE-O-SENE, we want to further advance the production of synthetic fuels for aviation."
Dr.-Ing. Tim Boeltken
Founder & Managing Director INERATEC

Prof. Dr. Moritz Wolf (KIT)

Prof Dr Moritz Wolf

Moritz has been Tenure-Track-Professor at KIT since May 2022 and leads the Materials Synthesis and Scale-Up group at the Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT). His research focuses on catalyst preparation and applications in the field of CO2 conversion, syngas chemistry and chemical hydrogen storage. In CARE-O-SENE, he is mainly involved in Work Package 1 and is responsible for the synthesis of model systems, nanoparticles and reference materials, which are subsequently characterized in depth using the various techniques available in Work Package 2 .

Position

Tenure-Track-Professor at KIT

Group Leader Materials Synthesis and Scale-Up at IKFT

Company

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Areas of Expertise

Moritz has been active in research on Fischer-Tropsch synthesis for more than ten years, focusing predominantly on deactivation mechanisms of supported cobalt catalysts. His fundamental work in this field, among other achievements, was recognized with the prestigious Carl-Zerbe Prize of the German Society for Sustainable Energy Carriers, Mobility and Carbon Cycles e.V. (DGMK) in 2023.

Together with acquired expertise in other fields of catalyst application, he contributes to the success of the CARE-O-SENE project through his expertise in the synthesis of defined nanoparticles and their use in model catalysts.

Moritz studied chemical engineering at KIT and received his doctorate from the University of Cape Town (UCT).

"CARE-O-SENE brings together scientists from a broad range of disciplines, generating fruitful synergies by combining proven Fischer-Tropsch experts with specialists from other fields."
Prof Dr Moritz Wolf
Leader of the Materials Synthesis and Scale-Up group at IKFT