Tessel Bouwens

Dr. Tessel Bouwens is an Assistant Professor at TU Delft, affiliated with the Department of Chemical Engineering under the Faculty of Applied Sciences. Her research focuses on biomimetic strategies in artificial photosynthesis and sustainable chemistry, aiming to replace fossil resources with solar-driven chemical production. She leads the Bouwens Lab, which investigates supramolecular approaches to energy conversion and circular economy challenges.

Academic Background: Tessel earned her Bachelor's (2014) and Master's (2016) in Chemistry from the University of Amsterdam (UvA). She completed her PhD at UvA under Prof. Dr. Joost Reek and Dr. Simon Mathew (2021), supported by an HRSMC fellowship. Postdoctoral work included a short stint at UvA and an NWO Rubicon-funded position at the University of Cambridge’s Reisner Lab (2022–2024), where she also served as a Research Fellow of Darwin College (2023). In 2024, she secured an NWO Veni Grant to advance her research at TU Delft.

Research Interests: Bouwens employs non-covalent chemistry and supramolecular machines to enhance photoelectrochemical systems. Her lab develops materials for solar chemical synthesis, emphasizing

• electrode preparation,
• electrochemical characterization,
• spectroscopic mechanistic studies,
• molecular shuttle design,
• nanoparticle catalysts,
• and sustainable energy solutions.

Awards: She has been recognized with prestigious fellowships, including the NWO Rubicon and Veni grants, and a Research Fellowship at Darwin College. These accolades underscore her contributions to sustainable energy research.

Advising & Grants: Bouwens currently oversees PhD projects (details pending) and collaborates on postdoctoral funding applications. Her grants include the Rubicon and Veni, supporting her work on solar chemical generation. She actively mentors students and researchers in her lab, offering mentorship through email and meetings.

Labs & Teams: The Bouwens Lab at TU Delft focuses on supramolecular strategies for artificial photosynthesis. She previously contributed to the Reisner Lab at Cambridge and maintained ties with Darwin College. Her team collaborates on projects involving molecular shuttles, electrode integration, and nanoparticle catalysis for sustainable chemical production.