We are excited to announce the expansion of our team with a new wonderful colleague: Carl Hansen.

We recently welcomed Carl Hansen to the DENSsolutions family, whose addition underscores our unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence. Stepping into the role of Senior Operations Manager, Carl brings a wealth of experience and expertise to oversee and optimize various operational facets at DENSsolutions. With a comprehensive background in supply chain management, Carl’s responsibilities encompass leading our Operations team, refining logistics processes and ensuring operational efficiency to support our strategic objectives. By leveraging new technologies and fostering strong collaborations with key stakeholders, Carl’s overarching goal is to establish a world-class operational framework aimed at maximizing efficiency and transforming our supply chain into a strategic asset, driving DENSsolutions’ growth and competitiveness in the market. In this article, we invite you to learn more about Carl’s background, education, experience and pivotal role at DENSsolutions.

Get to know Carl: Personally

“My name is Carl Hansen, and I was born in 1986 in Minnesota, the United States,  but I grew up in Marietta, Georgia just outside of Atlanta. In 2010, I moved to Quito, Ecuador to finalize my MBA and later moved to Bogota, Colombia on 2012 where I met my lovely wife Lina. Together we moved to the Netherlands in 2014. In August 2023 I was naturalized as a Dutch citizen, making me a dual national of the United States and the Netherlands. I speak fluent Spanish and am on a continuous journey to improve my Dutch. I have a 3 ½ year old French Bulldog named Bruna Fiona de l’Avesnois (aka “Goomba”) who I’m absolutely obsessed with. My hobbies are cooking, baking & hosting, collecting and caring for houseplants and playing poker and board games. I love to travel and always look for an excuse to visit new places and eat local cuisine. I believe in giving back to the community and strive to always be either donating to or volunteering for something. A few weeks ago I made my 10th blood donation in the Netherlands at Sanquin, which I’m very proud of.”

“I decided that I wanted my next job to be back in operations, but this time at a smaller company with a strong sense of community, a big growth potential in future-looking technologies, and a product that is not environmentally harmful: Hello DENSsolutions!” – Carl Hansen

Get to know Carl: Professionally

“I did my undergrad at Georgia State University in Spanish Language & Culture minoring in Business Administration. This program was a prerequisite for the International MBA Program where some courses and the professional internship must be done in a Spanish-speaking country. I also hold several professional certifications: CSCP & CPIM from the Association for Supply Chain Management; Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from SABIC; Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Georgia, EHBO First Responder from the Dutch Red Cross, among others.

I started working at 14 at McDonald’s where I learned the importance of Spanish in communicating with customers and colleagues. I also was introduced to McDonald’s world-class operational procedures and quality control mechanisms. From the age of 14 to 21 I was continuously employed part-time at restaurants while I studied. Those experiences ultimately inspired me to choose the aforementioned university path. In my late teens and early twenties I backpacked extensively through Latin America which opened my eyes to the lack of resources and education many communities struggle with. That led me to an interest in non-profit work in microfinance and community business development, and ultimately to my MBA internship in Quito, Ecuador at CARE, where I worked on micro-tourism development and AIDS awareness programs in rural indigenous communities. 

After CARE I wanted to stay in South America but couldn’t find full time work in non-profit so I moved to Bogota, Colombia to teach at EAN University, in hopes that academia could also be a meaningful way to serve the community. The university environment very fortunately brought me in contact with many high-profile Colombian business leaders and politicians which ‘re-inspired’ me to get back into corporate life, moving away from non-profit and academia. One of these contacts was a recruiter for SABIC based in the Netherlands who offered me a supply chain position in Bergen op Zoom. So together with Lina we packed our bags and set out on the Dutch adventure. I worked at SABIC for just over 2 years as a Demand Planner where I earned my APICS and Six Sigma credentials. I left SABIC to join HYVA as its Global Sales & Operations Planning Manager where I worked for 3.5 years improving supply chain operations and cross-functional collaboration. I sidestepped from that role into a junior financial controller position to strengthen my financial acumen. After 3.5 years in finance (and 7 years at Hyva) I felt I had learned what I needed about finance and contributed as much as I could to the supply chain function. I decided that I wanted my next job to be back in operations, but this time at a smaller company with a strong sense of community, a big growth potential in future-looking technologies, and a product that is not environmentally harmful: Hello DENSsolutions! I feel thankful and blessed to be here and look forward to growing together with this great group of people and products.”

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We are excited to announce the expansion of our team with two new wonderful colleagues: Andrés, our System Architect (Precision Engineer), and Zhichao, our Field Service Engineer.

We are thrilled to introduce two of our newest colleagues who, just like the rest of our team, exemplify our commitment to innovation and excellence: Dr. Andrés Alvarez and Zhichao Liu. Dr. Andrés Alvarez takes the helm as our System Architect (Precision Engineer), who will play a key role in designing the architecture that underpins our cutting-edge solutions, from design all the way to implementation. With an extensive background in mechanical engineering, Andrés brings a unique blend of technical expertise and a creative touch to his projects. His role is instrumental in ensuring and boosting the reliability, robustness and ease-of-use of our solutions by incorporating top-notch precision engineering practices.

We are also thrilled to welcome Zhichao Liu, our new Field Service Engineer, who will play a crucial role in the installation, service and repair of our in situ electron microscopy solutions, both globally and remotely. With a background in electrochemistry and micro- and nano-engineering/science, and experience in providing high-level training for microscopy techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman microscopy, Zhichao is well-equipped as our new Field Service Engineer to ensure that our valued customers have all the support they need. In this article, we invite you to get to know Andrés and Zhichao better, delving into their background, education and experience as well as their role at DENSsolutions.

Meet Dr. Andrés Alvarez

“My name is Andrés Alvarez, and I come from Bogotá, Colombia. I was born in 1981, the youngest of three siblings. From an early age, I was fascinated with household devices, often taking them apart and putting them right back together. This early curiosity, coupled with the unwavering support of my parents, sparked my lifelong passion for science and engineering. I studied Mechanical Engineering at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, broadening my technical perspective with courses in product design, automation and electrical engineering. As I neared the end of my undergraduate studies, I contemplated a career in academia and dreamed of pursuing further studies abroad. However, a unique opportunity arose when I started working for Alfagres, a notable manufacturer of ceramic tile products and paints. At Alfagres, I was focused on developing production equipment. But my academic dreams were not entirely sidelined as I received a scholarship to pursue my master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering through the Erasmus Mundus program. This led me to study at the renowned universities of Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and Ecole Nationale de Sciences Appliquées de Lyon.

“Outside of my professional journey, I have many interests – I grew up liking the television, music and videogames of the eighties and nineties, with a lot of influence from my older brother. I’ve also always enjoyed fantasy and science fiction novels. Nowadays. I have a wide-ranging taste in music and enjoy playing video games, musical instruments and board games.” – Dr. Andrés Alvarez

My pursuit of knowledge then led me to a PhD in the Netherlands at Delft University of Technology, where I was part of the Intelligent Mechanical Systems group, focusing on the ‘automatic generation of control software for mechatronic systems.’ This project allowed me to collaborate with high-tech companies, expanding my knowledge of system architecting and model-based design. In 2011, I successfully defended my PhD thesis, titled ‘Architecture-centric design: Modeling and applications to control architecture generation.’ Stepping away from academia and transitioning to industry instead, I first worked at Sonion, developing miniature devices integrating electro-acoustical sensors and actuators for the hearing-aid industry. Then I joined the Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center as a Systems Architect, where I contributed to the development of the EVA platform for ophthalmic surgery systems. This product interfaces with a wide range of surgical instruments, providing approximately 10 different surgical functions. It also features a graphical user interface for real-time adjustments, ensuring a seamless match with the surgery plan and addressing any unexpected situations in the operating room. Now, at DENSsolutions, I’m excited to embrace new challenges in the complex and dynamic field of in situ microscopy. This role involves seeking innovative solutions to product architecture, and I believe that my diverse background in academia and industry has equipped me with a unique set of skills to tackle the cutting-edge challenges of this industry.”

Meet Zhichao Liu

“My name is Zhichao Liu, and I was born and raised in China. My scientific journey began at Ocean University of China, where I pursued a degree in polymer materials and engineering. My inspiration to undergo this degree came from understanding the endless potential of polymers in reshaping the future. My studies covered diverse subjects, ranging from the intricacies of mathematics and physics to the fascinating world of polymer materials and electrochemistry. After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I moved to the Netherlands to pursue a master’s degree in Electrochemistry and Nanoscience at Leiden University. It was specifically during this time that I uncovered my passion for electrochemistry and micro- and nano-engineering, setting the course for many of my future endeavors. This passion led me to pursue a PhD in electrochemical sensor fabrication with micro and nano techniques at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). During my doctoral journey, I successfully fabricated electrochemical sensor chips using inkjet printing methods. These cutting-edge chips are adept at monitoring a wide array of molecular levels within the human body, such as dopamine, glucose and tyrosine. Beyond research, I actively participated in various roles. One notable role I undertook was a Lab Instructor at the PME department’s chemistry lab at TU Delft, where I was responsible for providing comprehensive training to all masters, doctoral and post-doctoral students before they used the chemistry lab. I also needed to understand their research objectives, assisting them in devising experimental schemes and alerting them to potential risks and hazards.

“Aside from my professional life, one of my greatest hobbies is swimming, especially in the sea. Beyond my love for swimming, I’ve always had an appreciation for nature, immersing myself in it through hiking expeditions when I can. I also enjoy keeping myself busy with projects where I’m able to exercise my love for invention, so I’m often crafting various gadgets and devices at home. In fact, my latest project to date is designing and developing an electric-foil surfboard.” – Zhichao Liu

Additionally, at TU Delft I served as the instructor for equipment like the electrochemical workstation, and techniques like AFM and Raman microscopy. Moreover, my duties in this capacity included not only training users but also daily maintenance of the instruments, troubleshooting and coordinating repairs with the manufacturers. Importantly, it was during my tenure as a Raman instructor that I became familiar with DENSsolutions. I was particularly impressed to learn of the company’s dedication to technological innovation, successfully developing cutting-edge in situ solutions that hold a significant position in the market. As a Field Service Engineer at DENSsolutions, my primary objective is to ensure optimal performance and longevity of our in situ electron microscopy solutions. I’m committed to providing efficient installations, timely services and prompt repairs to maintain and enhance customer trust and satisfaction. Additionally, I aim to continually learn and gather feedback to appropriately address evolving customer needs, furthering the company’s reputation for excellence.“

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We are happy to announce that DENSsolutions has expanded the team with a wonderful new colleague – Dr. Evgeniya Pechnikova.

In the pursuit to grow our applications development for the DENSsolutions Stream system and other future product lines, we recently welcomed Dr. Evgeniya Pechnikova to the team – our new Senior Applications Development Scientist. Evgeniya has years of experience and high-level technical expertise in electron microscopy (EM), including cryogenic-EM, tomography and data processing techniques. Her role at DENSsolutions will be focused on developing novel in situ liquid EM applications that demonstrate the power of our solutions. She will also be working on creating new techniques and methodologies that will support the research of our customers, as well as perfecting our demonstration and installation protocols. We are thrilled to have Evgeniya join the DENSsolutions family and look forward to the valuable contributions she will make to the team on both a personal and professional level. In this article, we have asked Evgeniya to introduce herself so you can learn more about her extensive experience and her new role at DENSsolutions.

Meet Dr. Evgeniya Pechnikova

“My name is Evgeniya Pechnikova, and I was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. I have a lot of love for adventure and history, and enjoy travelling around the world to explore ruins of ancient civilizations. I’m also an avid fan of photography, Latin social dances like salsa and tango, as well as playing badminton and a game known as ‘werewolves’!

I have always been drawn to different spheres of science. That is why for my higher education, I decided to enrol in Lomonosov Moscow State University‘s biological faculty. As they had a very broad program there, I had the opportunity to learn about a wide range of subjects, starting with mathematics and physics and ending up with biochemistry, plant physiology and even drawing.

During my master’s degree, I was introduced to the world of electron microscopy and was completely fascinated by its combination of science and photography – two topics that have always been a passion of mine. To add another dimension to my work, I found a PhD position in the field of cryo-EM and 3D reconstruction, working on investigating the structure and function of capsids of a helical plant virus. My PhD project was a result of a collaboration between Lomonosov Moscow State University, Institute of Crystallography in Moscow and Birkbeck, University of London. During this PhD, I worked in close collaboration with structural biologists that were highly experienced in cryo-EM and image processing before the new detector technology popularised the technique to a broader base of scientists. This was an incredibly enriching experience and certainly shaped my career path moving forward.

After completing my PhD, I joined Thermo Fisher Scientific in the Netherlands where I worked as an Applications Scientist in the Eindhoven NanoPort facility – a state-of-the-art electron microscopy facility that provides users with hands-on experience with numerous analytical techniques. During this role, I was responsible for providing training and demonstrations for life science TEM equipment. I was also in frequent collaboration with the R&D department to translate customer needs into applications development, and to test new hardware and software tools. As a result of this work, I was able to play a role in accelerating the new-resolution revolution that has bloomed in cryo-EM over the past couple years. Importantly, this role made me realize that trying new tools to solve long-standing problems is what excites me most. 

Now, as a Senior Applications Development Scientist at DENSsolutions, I have the unique opportunity to combine and explore two cutting-edge technologies, MEMS and cryo-EM. My top priority is to boost applications development and create working protocols that showcase the advantages of DENSsolutions’ MEMS technology within in situ liquid EM. I look forward to being actively involved in hands-on support during on-site and remote product demonstrations, as well as working with other departments to translate customer needs into workable solutions. I am excited to take on this new challenge and am confident that I will be able to make a meaningful contribution to the company, our customers and science as a whole.”

Get in touch with Evgeniya via:

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We are excited to announce the expansion of our team with our new colleague, Hans Radhoe.

Despite being a small company in the canal-ringed city of Delft, DENSsolutions has always been highly ambitious, with its sights set on disruptive growth and innovation. Keeping in line with this, we wanted to expand our team with someone who could lead our business development, with a focus on the discovery of new growth opportunities for the company and making our many visions a reality. We are happy to have found just the right person for this position – Hans Radhoe, our new Vice President of Sales and Business Development. With over 25 years of experience in business and development within fields such as life science and materials science, Hans has an extensive understanding of lead generation, advancing business strategy and the sales cycle process within diverse scientific markets. His role at DENSsolutions will focus on finding avenues of growth for the company and leading numerous aspects of the sales process, from prospecting and go-to-market strategies to customer relationship management. In this article, we have asked Hans to introduce himself so you can learn more about his education, experience and role at DENSsolutions. 

Meet Hans Radhoe

“My name is Hans Radhoe, and I was born in Suriname, a country in South America in the Amazon. At just 17 years old, I left Suriname with the bright intention to study medicine in the Netherlands. I had no knowledge at that time, however, that there was a lottery system in place in the Netherlands for being admitted into any of the medical schools in the country. As it turned out, I was not one of those selected to move forward in the admission process, which forced me to think of an alternative study to pursue.

This chain of events catapulted the start of my education in the field of biotechnology, which I studied at the Polytechnical Faculty in Delft. Studying biotechnology felt like an excellent choice for me since it not only piqued my interest, but was also a hot topic in the 80s and beyond. After finishing my Bachelor studies, my fascination with the environment led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Environmental Management at Open University in Heerlen, a small city in the southeast of the Netherlands bordering Germany.

After graduating, I took on a position for a couple years with the task of setting up a mycoplasma and virology lab in accordance with CGMP guidelines. In this role, I managed to upscale Mycoplasma testing services for the pharmaceutical industry. I then worked at Centocor in Leiden for a short while, which is a biotech subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. During this role, I was responsible for the production of biologic drugs involving monoclonal antibody technology, such as Remicade – a drug used to treat a number of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. It was particularly during this role that I gained hands-on experience in cell and gene therapy. 

Shortly after, I made the switch from lab to business because I became more and more passionate about perceiving and fulfilling the commercial needs of others. During my business jobs, I realized how imperative it is to be able to listen intently and actively when in communication with customers. This encouraged me to take a Master’s in Counselling and Coaching, which is part of the Psychology study at the Radboud University Nijmegen. Although the intention of pursuing this Master’s was to use the knowledge learnt to enhance my communication with clients, I found myself applying it in the volunteer work that I did next to my job at the time. This volunteer work involved coaching cancer patients at the Nederlandse Federatie van Kankerpatiëntenorganisaties, which I happened to stumble upon when seeing an advertisement from the organisation on TV. 

Further down the line in my career, after many enriching vocational experiences, I started working as the Sales Director at Amsterdam Scientific Instruments (ASI) – a spin-off company from Nikhef, which is a Dutch research institute for particle physics. ASI specializes in the design and manufacturing of advanced detector solutions for all kinds of particles, such as electrons. Indeed, it was particularly during this position that I stepped into the world of electron microscopy, which I found to be rather fascinating.

This then brings me to today, where I now have the role of Vice President of Sales and Business Development at DENSsolutions, a company that develops advanced electron microscopy solutions. I have actually been following DENSsolutions for a long time since a friend of mine worked here, and I have witnessed for myself the rapid innovation of the company in the past few years. Generally, in the span of my career, I have been active in numerous scientific markets all over the world and in many different positions, including account management, sales and business development. In my new role, I will be in charge of increasing the company’s presence in existing markets, as well as forming strategic partnerships that open up entirely new ones. I look forward to applying my extensive knowledge gained over the past two decades into this new role, and being part of a fantastic team so focused on continuous cooperation and innovation.”

Get in touch with Hans via:

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We are excited to announce the expansion of our team with two new wonderful colleagues: our MEMS Development Manager, Vasilis, as well as our Lab Manager and Quality Control Engineer, Erkin.

A prime focus of DENSsolutions is the innovation and further development of our in situ microscopy solutions, including those catered to the life science community. With this goal in mind, we wanted to expand our team with someone who could lead the development of our MEMS technology for liquid phase transmission electron microscopy. Over the past 15 years, Vasilis has acquired a unique and diverse pool of knowledge within numerous fields, including micro-/nanotechnology, Lab-on-a-Chip devices and life science applications such as point-of-care diagnostics and wearable optical biosensors. His role at DENSsolutions is focused on the development of new MEMS devices which will enable advanced in situ microscopy solutions for the scientific community.

Aside from innovation, DENSsolutions recognizes the need to deliver top-quality products that not only meet but exceed customer expectations. This is precisely the value that Erkin will bring forth in light of his five-year experience in quality control at the leading automotive and aerospace companies in Turkey. Erkin will be responsible for the internal and supplier-side quality control activities at DENSsolutions, as well as the implementation of valuable quality control tools to DENSsolutions processes. We asked Vasilis and Erkin to introduce themselves so you can learn more about their education, experience and role at DENSsolutions. 

Meet Dr. Vasilis Papadimitriou

“My name is Vasilis Papadimitriou and I am 33 years old. I was born and raised in a small town called Levadia in Greece, and in 2013 I moved to the Netherlands.

In 2006, I started my Bachelor in Electronics and Computer Engineering at the Technical University of Crete in Greece. After that, I pursued a Master’s degree in the same field where I focused on programming, electronics and telecommunications. For my MSc thesis, I investigated the use of DNA for complex mathematical algorithms (DNA computing). After my military service, I moved to the Netherlands in 2013 and dived into the world of micro-/nanotechnology as part of my MSc in Electrical Engineering at the University of Twente. During this MSc thesis, I created a novel carbon electrode for use in supercapacitors, which granted me deep insights into electrochemistry and fluid mechanics. 

After that, I decided to continue my studies with a PhD in University of Twente. The focus of my doctorate was on Lab-on-a-Chip devices. I’ve always enjoyed multidisciplinary science, and Lab-on-a-Chip devices integrate numerous fields such as microtechnology, physics, chemistry, biology and electrical engineering. The European project that my PhD was part of focused on the development of a point-of-care device for early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. My role was to separate and concentrate specific proteins from a droplet of blood. In 2019, I received my doctorate degree and since then, I have had two postdoctoral positions: one on artificial intelligence for Lab-on-a-Chip applications at the University of Twente, and another on wearable optical biosensors at the Technical University of Delft.

That brings us to today, where I am really happy to be part of the DENSsolutions team. Actually, I wasn’t previously familiar with in situ microscopy nor the company, which is really unfortunate since their (and now our!) products could have solved many of the challenges I faced during my PhD and postdoctoral work. My main role at DENSsolutions is to investigate new technologies and develop intelligent MEMS devices that will make electron microscopy easier, faster and reproducible. With more than 15 years of experience within academia, I am very much well-acquainted with the struggles of research. I hope through DENSsolutions I will make the lives of scientists easier, while at the same time expanding my engineering and scientific horizons.”

Meet Erkin Demir

“My name is Erkin Demir. I am a 28-year-old individual of Circassian origin who was born and raised in Turkey. As of February 2022, I moved to the Netherlands for my exciting new role at DENSsolutions.

I started my Bachelor in Gazi University in the field of metallurgical and materials engineering. For my Bachelor’s thesis, I did research on the current and potential uses of graphene. After my undergraduate degree, I started working as a Quality Engineer in Bozankaya, a top manufacturer for public transportation vehicles in Turkey. There, I had the opportunity of managing the supplier deployment and incoming quality control processes of the first domestic 100% electric buses and trams. This job granted me my first exposure into the intricacies and importance of quality control for the delivery of top-quality products. As a next step in my career, I became a Quality Engineer at Erkunt Tractor Ind. Inc., an renowned tractor manufacturer in Turkey. This position helped me obtain deeper insights into field of quality control as a whole, as I was involved in areas such as mass production, lean manufacturing, supplier development, 5S and similar processes.

Afterwards, I landed a job as a Lead Quality Engineer at the Tusaş Engine Industry Inc., the leading aviation engine manufacturer in Turkey. During my work there, I was fully responsible for the quality side of the NPI processes of some parts in aircraft engine programs. I worked on the implementation of advanced measurement methods to ensure the high precision and safety conditions associated with the aviation industry. I obtained a lean 6 Sigma yellow belt and AS 13001 DPRV certification after completing related courses and exams. Thanks to this SAE authorization, I became eligible to sell aero engine parts on an international level. In parallel with this position, I completed my Master’s degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at Gazi University in 2020. For my Master’s thesis, I examined the performance of high temperature diffusion coatings on the corrosion resistance of nickel-based superalloys used in high pressure turbine blades.

Here I am now, a different country, a different industry, and some awesome teammates. I couldn’t be more excited and curious to embark on this new journey. My main role at DENSsolutions is to ensure the proper functioning of all our products so that our customers can conduct their research without disturbance. This includes performing meticulous inspections and tests at our lab on our world-class MEMS devices, TEM holders and fluid handling systems. Moreover, I will be working very closely with suppliers to ensure the highest possible quality level for our products. I am excited to be deploying all the best practices I have learned over the years into DENSsolutions, adding value step by step.”

Get in touch with

Erkin

Erkin

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At DENSsolutions, we persistently challenge ourselves to develop the most innovative and outstanding solutions that you need to advance your research. This continuous yet passionate pursuit has been led for years by our Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Hugo Pérez, a longstanding pillar within this company. He has played a critical role in positioning DENSsolutions as a global leader in the field of in-situ TEM, and bringing home the Microscopy Today 2020 award. In this latest addition to DENSsolutions Meet the Team series, we interview Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Hugo Pérez, so you can learn all about his diverse educational experiences and wild backstory.

Where it all started

“My name is Hugo Pérez and I’m 35-year-old proud Mexican born in the beautiful city of Chihuahua. Although I was raised in Mexico and it holds a special place in my heart, I have lived in 7 countries around the world including the USA, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands.

“I’ve always said that my passion is MEMS and nanotechnology, my obsession is biology, but my heart lies within business management.” – Dr. Hugo Pérez 

When deciding what to study early on in my life, I was doubting whether to go for medicine or engineering. After much deliberation, I decided to go for the latter as I realized that I could later on in my career apply the developed technical skills for medical devices and healthcare purposes. I obtained my BSc in Mechatronics Engineering at the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico. It was during my bachelor’s studies, and especially during my time in Canada and Germany, that I was introduced to the world of nanotechnology and realized that there was nothing more I wanted to do. I was amazed by the wide scope of possibilities in which this disruptive technology could be used. So, I started discussing with my supervisors, expressing my intention of specializing in micro/nano-mechatronics, with the aim of one day having the knowledge to develop electromechanical systems at the molecular scale for biomedical purposes. Funnily enough, I was partly inspired by the movie Fantastic Voyage, where a submarine and its crew were shrunken to microscopic size and injected into the bloodstream of a scientist in order to save his life.“

The first of many MSc degrees

“Coincidentally, both my supervisors in Canada and Germany, who didn’t know each other, gave me the exact same advice: to pursue a MSc in Molecular Bioengineering at TU-Dresden, in Germany. But before doing so, I had my first professional experience working within the industry, where I spent a bit over 1.5 years working as an Automation Engineer at GCC, a large cement company in Mexico. This job gave me a lot of exposure to chemistry and material science, and allowed me to discover much more about the power of using nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes. As you can imagine, this experience only grew my desire further to specialize in nanotechnology.

“From that point onwards, and for the next many years, I would be spending most of my time inside the cleanroom, learning all kinds of processes and tips & tricks to manufacture nanodevices.”

So, after this rewarding experience, I took my supervisors’ advice to heart, and jumped back to Germany to start my first (of three) Master’s degree. Studying molecular bioengineering gave me the opportunity to learn about molecular biology and all kinds of exciting applications in genetics and proteomics. However, as interesting as it was, I was still missing the engineering side that would allow me to design and manufacture nanodevices. This is precisely why I moved to Sweden to pursue a second MSc degree in Nanotechnology at the Chalmers University of Technology. It was thanks to this second MSc degree that I properly got immersed in the world of NEMS/MEMS and micro/nano-fabrication. From that point onwards, and for the next many years, I would be spending most of my time inside the cleanroom, learning all kinds of processes and tips & tricks to manufacture nanodevices.”

Mission impossible

“After finishing my second MSc, and given the fact that this was all very intense, I was prepared to go back to the industry with the aim of slowly starting to move towards a highly ranked management position in a high-tech company. However, destiny had something else prepared for me. I ended up getting a PhD position at TU-Delft in the Netherlands. Although pursuing a PhD was not part of the plan, I couldn’t deny this opportunity given the fact that the project was exactly what I was looking for. Not only that, but my promotor would be Dr. Urs Staufer, a remarkable scientist who led NASA’s Phoenix Mars Mission and developed the first nanosensor for planetary science able to measure the presence of water molecules on Mars. I took this opportunity as a great chance to learn from one of the best.

“At a certain point I was working in parallel on two different PhD projects while simultaneously pursuing an MBA.”

To make the story more complicated, another opportunity came up to pursue a third Master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Cumbria. Of course, I didn’t hesitate to jump on this considering my goal has always been to become a successful businessman. However, destiny still had another surprise for me: the appearance of another PhD project on graphene manipulation. Therefore, at a certain point I was working in parallel on two different PhD projects while simultaneously pursuing an MBA. This complete academic experience, which was extremely demanding, forced me to become a very structured and time-efficient person. This is partly the reason why I’ve won the best scientific paper on a number of occasions at prestigious international conferences.

Now, at DENSsolutions, I’m trying to exploit all these experiences to the most, not just to lead the company on the right technological path, but also to bring the business to a higher level. I enjoy acting as a coach to my colleagues and ensuring there’s always something they can learn from me. From a commercial perspective, what I enjoy the most is pitching our technology to convince people of our solutions, as well as trying to close new deals. It excites me that researchers all over the world in a wide variety of applications rely on our advanced technologies to conduct their research. Keeping the right balance between business and science is what has allowed me to strengthen my international network, and what has given me the possibility to be in contact with global industrial leaders and some of the greatest scientific minds in the community.”

Thank you for reading this article! If you would like to ask Hugo any questions, whether it’s about his education, experience or knowledge, please don’t hesitate to contact him via the form below. 

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