Who are you? Where are you from?
Eelco: "I'm Eelco Ruijter, born and raised in the countryside of North Holland. For the past twenty years, I've been living in Woerden, about 35 km south of Amsterdam."
What is your area of expertise and why did you get into this research area?
Eelco: "I'm a synthetic organic chemist. Along with my research group, I focus on developing new and efficient methods for synthesizing complex organic molecules. During my studies and career, I became increasingly fascinated by how molecules react and the challenges of creating complex structures. It's like a multidimensional chess game where the moves of pieces vary depending on others on the board."
What inspired you to pursue a career in science, and how has that motivation evolved over time?
Eelco: "It took me quite some time to become as passionate about science as I am now. As a first-generation student, I didn't know what to expect from university and scientific research. During my research project as a student, I saw a complex molecular structure on my supervisor's desk, and my initial thought was 'I want to be able to make that.' That's how I discovered my love for the journey of discovery that organic synthesis can be. After my PhD, I was still uncertain about my future. I did a postdoc in a completely different field, where I found out I disliked pipetting... Then, I was offered a fantastic opportunity here at VU as an assistant professor at the age of 29. While I was very happy for years in my role as an assistant professor, my conviction grew to climb further up the academic ladder when circumstances allowed for a more leadership position."
What role do collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches play in your work?
Eelco: "Collaboration plays a crucial role in all aspects of science. On one hand, we conduct chemistry for the sake of chemistry itself, but on the other hand, we analyze our work by collaborating with experts in structure elucidation (NMR, X-ray crystallography) and computational chemists to clarify reaction mechanisms. We also collaborate closely with biocatalysis experts for valuable starting materials and provide interesting compounds for microbiologists and virologists to test on their targets. While chemistry is often considered a core science, I would say organic chemistry plays a central role within this domain."
What impact on the world would you like to make?
Eelco: "The most important thing for me is to better understand chemical reactivity. This will lead to the development of new, more efficient, and therefore more sustainable chemical reactions for producing valuable molecules. In other words, more efficient reactions mean more efficient production of chemicals, resulting in less waste and more sustainable processes."
Tell us something we don't know about you? Hobbies, interests...
Eelco: "Not many people know that I'm a fan of electronic music. I own several synthesizers. Although I have many plans to create music, I find myself mostly engaged in sound design, which I enjoy for the same reasons I love organic synthesis - only I'm creating sounds instead of compounds. I also enjoy hiking and being in nature in general. Like last year, I will spend my summer vacation in Norway with my family to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Oh, and I also love taking my dog for walks."
Want to learn more about Eelco Ruijter? Click here to visit his personal page.