Brigitte Lamers

The fascination for chemistry started in high school where we often did experiments and I saw how you can create materials or substances with chemistry. Therefore, I decided to study chemical engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology, which is an applied and very broad program. I found my passion in the intersection between organic and polymer chemistry and obtained my PhD in this field.
After my PhD, I started working in Switzerland for Metrohm AG as a team lead in the Column R&D department. I was allowed to set up the Column Innovation and Technology department and lead the team where we are now, working on new polymer particles for use in columns. Besides the scientific challenges that I already knew from my PhD, this role also comes with leadership and management challenges. Challenges that I am eager to take on and learn more about, due to my interest in social and political interactions.
This interest and challenges are also the reason why I applied for the Marina van Damme grant. I will use the grant for a leadership course, which will help me become a better leader and grow towards a higher management position in the future. Furthermore, this grant also brings a network of powerful women with careers who support and inspire each other, where I can always turn to with questions.