Ramses Snoeckx

Scientist & Project Leader | Plasma Technology for Energy and Environmental Solutions

Switzerland

About

An ambitious, creative, interdisciplinary scientist and educator specialized in unraveling plasma-chemical (non-)equilibrium kinetics, with a passion for energy and environmental applications. My research primarily focuses on the electrification of chemical processes through gas- and liquid-phase plasma chemistry; and spans across carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion, artificial photosynthesis, CO2-free hydrogen and e-chemicals synthesis through reforming of hydrocarbons, and reforming of hydrogen carriers such as ammonia (NH3).

Experience

  • Empa (Switzerland)
    • Project Leader
      Mar 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 4 mos

      PLasma Applications for Sustainably Mining the Atmosphere (PLASMA) The aim of the PLASMA project is to decarbonize energy-intensive industrial processes by utilizing CO2 as a basic building block for the sustainable production of valuable carbonaceous molecules and materials using plasmas. Plasma processing is an ideal Power-to-X technology to convert (intermittent) renewable electricity into value-added products. To achieve our goal, we will establish a combined experimental and numerical platform to explore the effects of high pressure and temperature on plasma-driven reactions.

    • Scientist
      Feb 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

      Materials Meet Life Department - Advanced Fibers Laboratory - Plasma & Coating Team AL: Prof. Dr. Manfred Heuberger GL: Dr. Dirk Hegemann Development of industrially compatible processes for electrified gas processing using non-equilibrium plasma technology.

  • KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) (Thuwal, Makkah, Saudi Arabia)
    • Guest Lecturer
      Oct 2017 - Mar 2024 · 6 yrs 6 mos

      - Mechanical Engineering Program, ME261: Applications of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma - Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division: Introduction to Plasma Science & Technology - International Plasma Chemistry Society Summer School - Clean Combustion Winter School - Santa Catarina State University (UDESC), Physics Post-Graduate Program - Departmental (Mechanical Engineering) and research center (CCRC) seminars on plasma technology

    • Research Scientist
      Oct 2020 - Feb 2024 · 3 yrs 5 mos

      Physical Science and Engineering division (PSE) Expansion and further validation of KAUSTkin for the production and efficient conversion of both carbon-free fuels for the hydrogen economy (H2 and NH3) and e-chemicals for industry. - Mentoring MSc/PhD/visiting students of PACL research group - Chair and organizer of the weekly CCRC seminar series (300+ members)

    • Postdoctoral Fellow
      Oct 2017 - Sep 2020 · 3 yrs

      Physical Science and Engineering division (PSE) PI: Prof. Dr. Eng. Min Suk Cha Development of a temperature-dependent plasma-chemical kinetic model (KAUSTkin) to study plasma-based synthesis, reforming, and combustion of hydrocarbons from 300 to 1200 K. - Mentoring MSc/PhD/visiting students of PACL research group

  • Visiting Researcher at UCL
    Nov 2022 - Nov 2022 · 1 mo

    Department of Physics and Astronomy / Quantemol Collaborator: Prof. Dr. Jonathan Tennyson Ab initio R-matrix method calculations of electron-molecule interactions for NH3, NH2, and NH.

  • Visiting Researcher at Seoul National University
    Nov 2019 - Nov 2019 · 1 mo

    Department of Aerospace Engineering Collaborator: Prof. Dr. Eng. Bok Jik Lee Functionalization and optimization of KAUSTkin.

  • Researcher at University of Antwerp
    May 2017 - Sep 2017 · 5 mos

    Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine - Antwerp (PLASMANT) PI: Prof. Dr. Annemie Bogaerts Using CH4 as chemical scavenger to reduce NOx production in N2-containing plasma discharges.