Our Team

Dannie finished his MSc. degree in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry in 2014 with the distinction cum laude from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). In 2018, he defended his Ph.D. thesis at TU/e. During his academic career he has focused on sustainable chemistry, which includes research into spinning disc reactors, microfluidic devices, visible light photo catalysis, sustainable solvents, and crude lignin oil. His PhD research gained attention in the Dutch national news. In 2018, Dannie was selected as Young European Talent, while in 2019 he was chosen as CAS Future Leader and awarded with a One Young World Shell Scholarship. He is member of the Brightlands Young Professionals Advisory Board and ambassador for the Young European Talent program, One Young World, and IMPACTR. Dannie is a natural salesman and a qualified scientist. As Vertoro’s CBO, he welcomes the opportunity to help bring our technology to market alongside his related postdoc work.

During her Master’s studies, Zorica was granted a scholarship from the ICM Erasmus+ program which enabled her to spend six months at the University of Groningen (Netherlands). She was conducting laboratory experiments for her Master’s thesis entitled „Exploratory studies on pyrolytic lignin upgrading by catalytic hydrotreatment“. She was working at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, at the Chemical Engineering Department. The aim of this research was a catalyst screening of pyrolytic lignin (pine derived biomass feedstock) with a focus on production of high yields of aromatic and phenolic compounds. This research work was successfully published in March 2019 under the title „Hydrotreatment of pyrolytic lignins to aromatics and phenolics using heterogeneous catalysts“ and Zorica was listed as a co-author.

Zorica gained her practical knowledge within Oil&Gas industry working as an intern at the NIS Gazprom Neft Oil refinery in Pančevo (Serbia) in 2015 and 2016.

Due to negative impact these technologies leave on our environment and people’s health, Zorica decided to shift her focus on alternative and more sustainable & abundant resourcess, lignocellulosic biomass. Her motto is: Accept better perspectives and leave positive impact on this world.

Monika holds her BSc in Chemical Technology and MSc in Nanotechnology from Lodz University of Technology (Poland). Her main areas of expertise are polymer chemistry and material science. In 2016 Monika joined Maastricht University where she pursued her PhD in the group of assoc. prof. Katrien Bernaerts and prof. Andrij Pich. Her project focused on the development of lignin-based applied materials such as adhesives, coatings and additives. During her PhD Monika not only combined and advanced the knowledge and on-hand experience in polymer and organic chemistry in combination with material science, but also was actively in collaboration with multiple academic and industrial partners. At Vertoro Monika is involved in the projects related to material applications of Goldilocks®. Monika is a huge enthusiast of innovative and sustainable science, especially when it is introduced into the market and our everyday lives, and intellectual property law.