The Randstad, Netherlands
As a researcher and project leader with a process engineering background, I love the combination of solving real and urgent problems on site and working on long-term improvements based on extensive research. The global challenge of becoming greener and more circular gives me both the drive and opportunity to show my best. I have great affinity with technique, but I do not consider myself a pure technician. I also like to extend my role as researcher and engineer to the commercial and social aspects of a company. In my roles as project leader and mentor I put pride in encouraging and enabling the people I work with to excel. I am eager to learn and to travel. I am proactive, goal-oriented and a team player.
Project leader and researcher at Tata Steel R&D. Currently, I lead various research projects to enable Tata Steel to increase its circularity and decreasing its CO2 footprint by using more steel scrap instead of iron ore. Both in internal and in (inter)national research projects we develop new methods to better analyse scrap and research new processes to counter the negative effects of unwanted elements from scrap in our steel products. Recent implementations include an AI camera system that identifies external scrap and the development of a portal (based on LIBS and 3D camera) that can determine the chemical composition of scrap in a truck. I focus on the long term vision and strategy of Tata Steel. I anticipate with my projects to already deliver solutions for Tata Steel the moment the daily operations realise there is a problem. At the same time, I have a positive mindset and give credits to the people in my projects. This leads to highly motivated project teams that usually deliver more than expected. I maintain a strong international network with universities and external companies, to keep up to date on the state of the art. Also, the contact with enthusiastic people that are a little further away from the daily operations keep me sharp and creative. For this reason I supervise PhD and MSc students at TU Delft as well. Earlier I was project leader and researcher in the field of hot metal desulphurisation and converter steelmaking. In this role I've made improvements to the process, which have been implemented in the steel plants of Tata Steel in IJmuiden (NL) and Port Talbot (UK). Thanks to my publications on hot metal desulphurisation, I'm regarded internationally as an expert in that field and my work is used for improvements in steel plants across the globe.
Guest researcher for 0.5 day per week at the "Metals, Production, Refining and Recycling group" of Yongxiang Yang at TU Delft. Being a bridge between academia and industry. Setting up new projects between Tata Steel and TU Delft, bilateral or with third parties. Working on research in primary steelmaking, hot metal desulphurisation and scrap recycling. Supervising students (PhD/MSc/BSc). Giving lectures to MSc students on iron- and steelmaking, with a focus on circularity and decarbonisation. Between 2015-2021, I was mainly working on my own PhD project, "Desulphurisation in 21st century iron- and steelmaking".
As a 'burgerlid' in Hillegom, I support the municipal council faction of PRO (fka GroenLinks-PvdA; the green social democratic party). In council meetings I represent the PRO faction and defend the party's viewpoints. Also, people in Hillegom can contact me with questions, issues or requests regarding local politics. As a 'burgerlid' I hope to contribute to a fairer, greener and better Hillegom for everyone in Hillegom.
Design, develop and commission desulphurisation installations for steel plants worldwide. Research for improvements of the steelmaking process. Expert in logistics of steel plants (developed the “Steel Plant Model”, a 3D logistical simulation model). Technical presentations for international clients. Represent Danieli Corus at international conferences and in journal papers.
Determining kinetics of absorption of CO2 in amine solutions for a research project for TNO. I used my knowledge and expertise of the laboratory equipments which were also used for my MSc assignment. The work led to one scientific publication: Sanchez-Fernandez et al. "Conceptual Design of a Novel CO2 Capture Process Based on Precipitating Amino Acid Solvents" (I am one of the co-authors).