Elif Doğa Özerk

PhD candidate
Delft University of Technology

Department

Chemical Engineering

Contact information

Room
Building 58 - E2.480

Email address
e.d.ozerk@tudelft.nl

Key expertises

Heterogeneous catalysis, CO2 hydrogenation, Thermocatalysis, Atomic Layer Deposition

About me

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University. Then I moved to Switzerland to pursue a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering at EPFL, where I conducted my thesis in the Group for Sustainable Energy Carriers, supervised by Prof. Oliver Kröcher. In November 2024, I began my PhD at TU Delft in the Product and Process Engineering Group, working with Prof. Dr. Ir. Ruud van Ommen and Prof. Dr. Evgeny Pidko. In my free time, I enjoy creating artwork and visiting exhibitions.

About my research

Heterogeneous catalysts play a pivotal role in thermocatalytic CO₂ hydrogenation; a crucial pathway for producing base chemicals and energy carriers, such as methanol, sustainably. My research focuses on developing well-defined catalysts for CO₂ hydrogenation using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). ALD is a technique that enables atomic-level control, high uniformity, and three-dimensional conformality to enhance catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. This approach supports a deeper understanding of structure-performance relationship. With better-performing catalysts, we will be one step closer to achieving a carbon-neutral society and a more sustainable future.

Academic career

PhD Candidate

2024 - present: PhD candidate in the group of Product and Process Engineering at Delft University of Technology, Netherlands, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ir. Ruud van Ommen

MSc in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
2022 - 2024: EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), Switzerland.

Engineering Internship: Internship in Cleaning Optimisation, Novartis Pharma Stein AG, Stein

Master Project: Designing highly-active CuCe-based catalysts for the reverse water gas shift reaction

BSc in Chemical Engineering

2018 - 2022: ITU (Istanbul Technical University), Turkey.

Research Internship: ITU Catalysis Research Group, Catalyst and Process Development for Light Olefin Production from Purified Synthesis Gas Project, supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) Intern Researcher Scholarship Program