Confirmed Speakers

Yusuf Yagci is a full professor of Department of Chemistry at Istanbul Technical University, Turkey with expertise in synthetic polymer chemistry involving photopolymerization, controlled polymerizations and high performance thermosets. He received his M.Sc. (1977) and Ph.D. (1979) degree from Liverpool University (UK). He joined Istanbul Technical University in 1980 where he continued all his academic activities till now. He conducted research in various institutes in Germany and Japan supported by Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung and Japan Society of Promotion of Science, respectively. He is the recipient of several awards including international ones, namely The Society of Polymer Science, Japan (SPSJ) International Award (2008), OIC Ministerial COMSTEC International Award (2010). OIC Science & Technology Award (2017), Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry (2017).

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Nicolaas-Alexander Gotzen leads the Wiper Rubber Development Department at Robert Bosch Belgium (RBBE). located in Tienen (Belgium). As “Lead Plant” RBBE is the knowledge and development center for wiper rubber and wiper blade (processes and products), and supports production facilities in Asia, Europe and Latin America. His current area of research lies in the field of rubber compound development, rubber profile development, rubber surface pretreatments and rubber coating development. Nicolaas-Alexander Gotzen graduated as Master in the Applied Science of Engineering (Chemistry - Material Science) and obtained his Ph.D. in the research unit 'Physical Chemistry and Polymer Science' at the faculty of Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. In 2010, he joined the rubber development department at Robert Bosch Belgium.

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Current Position:
Rheology and Thermal Analysis Lab Supervisor, ExxonMobil Chemical Europe Inc.

Research Field:
Research in the field of industrial polymers, covering polyolefins, elastomers, adhesives and synthetic rubbers. The research activities cover the material characterization side as well as development programs in various applications, such as non-woven fabrics, multilayer thin films, tire compounds, adhesive for packaging or foamed polymers.

Education and former professional experience:
I hold a Ph.D. in Chemistry-Physics, Specialty Polymers, from the University of Pau in France. After my graduation I have been hired in 2004 by ExxonMobil Chemical in the Advanced Characterization Department of the European Technology Center in Machelen. After 3 years spent in the BOPP Film Division I came back to the Advanced Characterization as Senior Rheologist in 2010.

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