Isabel Arends
Isabel W.C.E. Arends (born 1966)[1] is a Dutch chemist and Director-General of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).[2]
During her academic career, her research focused on environmentally-friendly, or 'green', chemistry; for example, using enzymes as biocatalysts while avoiding the need for toxic solvents.[3] Arends was elected a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in 2017.[3][4][5]
Academic career
[edit]Arends studied physical organic chemistry at Leiden University, between 1984 and 1988, obtaining an MsC. In 1993, she obtained her PhD at the same university with a thesis titled: 'Thermolysis of arene derivatives with coal-type hydrogen donors', studying with Prof. Rob Louw and Dr. Peter Mulder.[6] After graduation, Arends spent a year as a postdoctoral researcher in Ottawa, Canada at the Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences. She joined Delft University of Technology in 1995, and was awarded a research fellowship of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in the field of biomimetic oxidations.[7]
Between 2001 and 2006, she worked as associate and assistant professor at Delft University of Technology. In 2007, she was promoted to full professor of Biocatalysis and Organic Chemistry.[8] She served as the chair of the Biotechnology Department at Delft University of Technology from 2013 to 2018,[9] vice-chair of the Applied and Engineering Sciences domain of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, and founded the TU Delft Bioengineering Institute in 2016.[10]
In July 2018, Arends was appointed Professor of biocatalysis and organic chemistry at Utrecht University and dean of its Faculty of Science.[11]
Since April 1st 2026, Arends is Director-General of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).[12]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Isabel Arends nieuw bestuurslid STW" (in Dutch). Technologiestichting STW. 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Isabel Arends directeur-generaal RIVM per 1 april 2026 | RIVM". www.rivm.nl. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Isabel Arends". Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019.
- ↑ "Royal Academy selects 26 new members". Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. 10 May 2017. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017.
- ↑ "New KNAW members include three chemists". www.nwo.nl. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ↑ "Isabel Arends Group". TU Delft. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ↑ "One-Flow". one-flow.org. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ↑ "Isabel Arends Group". Delft University of Technology. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ↑ "Isabel Arends Group". TU Delft. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ↑ "Isabel Arends new dean of the Faculty of Science". Utrecht University. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ↑ "Isabel Arends new dean of the Faculty of Science". Utrecht University. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019.
- ↑ "Isabel Arends directeur-generaal RIVM per 1 april 2026 | RIVM". www.rivm.nl. Retrieved 4 May 2026.