Research
People

People

M.N. Tsampas, senior researcher

  • 07/2014 - now: Senior Scientist, Group leader, Catalytic and Electrochemical Processes for Energy Applications (CEPEA), DIFFER, the Netherlands
  • 11/2011 - 06/2014: Post-doctoral researcher, Institut de Recherches sur la Catalyse et l’Environnement de Lyon (IRCELYON) (France), Air cleaning, Gas treatment, Atmospheric chemistry
  • 03/2011 - 10/2011: Post-doctoral researcher, The Cyprus Institute (CyI), Energy, environment and water research center, (Cyprus)
  • 02/2010 - 12/2010: Post-doctoral researcher, University of Patras, Laboratory of chemical and electrochemical processes (Greece)
  • 02/2005 - 01/2010: PhD in (electro)catalysis ,and MSc in Physical, chemical and biochemical processes, University of Patras, Laboratory of chemical and electrochemical processes (Greece)

ORCID: 0000-0002-4367-4457

Sina Haghverdi khamene, POSTDOCToral researcher

  • 2026 - now: Postdoc, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER),the Netherlands
  • 2021 - 2026: PhD candidate, DIFFER@TU.e ,the Netherlands
  • 2018 - 2020: M.Sc. in Materials Chemistry, Stockholm University, Sweden
  • 2013 - 2018: B.Sc. in Materials Engineering (Industrial Metallurgy), Iran University of Science and Technology, Iran

Interests and Hobbies: Materials for Energy Applications, Electrocatalysis, Valorization of Low-value C-streams, Watching Sports, Cooking, Table Tennis, Technophile

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Ameya Ranade, POSTDOCToral researcher

  • 03/2026 – now: Postdoc, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER),the Netherlands
  • 12/2021 – 01/2026: PhD candidate, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER),the Netherlands
  • 04/2021 – 07/2021: Research Intern, AquaBattery B.V., the Netherlands
  • 09/2019 – 07/2021: MSc.InChemical Engineering (Process Engineering), Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands
  • 08/2015 – 06/2019: B.E. Chemical Engineering, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India 

Research interests: Ion Exchange Membranes (IEM), Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA), Hydrogen Technology, Feasibility Assessment

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Roopathy Mohan, Postdoctoral researcher

  • 2023-now: Postdoc researcher,Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), the Netherlands.
  • 2021-2022 Postdoctoral researcher,Chalmers Institute of Technology, Sweden.
  • 2015-2019,PhD. in Chemistry,Ariel university, Israel.
  • 2012-2014,MSc in Chemistry, National Institute of Technology-Thiruchirappalli, India
  • 2009-2012,BSc in Chemistry with Cheminformatics,Lady Doak College, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India.

Research interests:Fuel cells, electrolyzers, wastewater treatment; plasma-assisted electrocatalysts/model electrodes development; probing the catalytic active sites, kinetics, and mechanisms.

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Vairavel Manthayan, Postdoctoral researcher

  • 2023-now: Postdoc researcher,Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), the Netherlands.
  • 2021-2022 : Visiting researcher, Uppsala University, Sweden.
  • 2019-2021 : Researcher, Uppsala University, Sweden.
  • 2018-2019 : Research Associate, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, India
  • 2013-2018 : Ph.D. in Physics, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
  • 2012-2013 : Junior Research Fellow, Veltech Dr. RR & SR technical university, India
  • 2009-2011 : M.Sc. in Applied Physics, National Institute of Technology, India.
  • 2006-2009 : B.Sc. in Physics, Periyar University, Salem, India

Research interests : In-operando ion beam analysis, Energy materials, DFT, Electrochemistry

Hobbies: Drawing, Travelling, Badminton

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Dimitrios Zagoraios, Postdoctoral researcher

  • 03/2024 - now: Postdoc researcher,Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), the Netherlands.
  • 04/2023 - 02/2024: Production Engineer, ELVAL COLOUR, Greece
  • 11/2021 - 11/2022: Chemical Process Engineer (during the mandatory military service), Hellenic Army, Greece
  • 09/2017 - 08/2021: PhD in (electro)catalysis, University of Patras (Laboratory of Chemical and Electrochemical Processes), Greece
  • 09/2012 - 07/2017: Integrated Master of Engineering (MEng) in Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, Greece

Researech interests: Electrochemistry, Catalysis, Hydrogen Technology, Biomass Valorization, Nanomaterials

Hobbies: Travelling and hiking.

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Deepak Kumar Chauhan, Postdoctoral researcher

  • 03/2024 - now: Postdoc researcher, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), the Netherlands.
  • 07/2023-03/2024: Research Associate, Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) Mohali, India.
  • 01/2018-06/2023: PhD in solar-fuels, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali (IISERM), India.
  • 05/2017-01/2020: Project fellow at Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) Mohali, India.
  • 09/2014-03/2017: Project fellow at Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, India.
  • 2011-2013: MSc in chemistry, University of Lucknow, India.
  • 2008-2011: BSc in chemistry, University of Lucknow, India.

Research interest: (Photo)catalysis, Solar-fuels, biomass conversion and, mechanistic investigation for underlying heterogeneous (photo)catalysis.

Hobbies: Travelling, hiking, and playing guitar.

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Muhamad Usman Ahmad, PhD Candidate

  • 03/2025 - now: PhD candidate, DIFFER@TU/e, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), the Netherlands.
  • 03/2018-02/2024: MSc Hanyang University ERICA, Ansan, South Korea
  • 2016-2020: BSc in University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan

Research interest: Design and optimization of electrochemical energy conversion devices, such as electrolyzers, electrosynthesis and fuel cells. Synthesis of nanoparticles or thin films for electrocatalytic reactions.

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Xiying jian, PhD Candidate

  • 03/2025 - now: PhD candidate, DIFFER@TU/e, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), the Netherlands.
  • 09/2021-06/2024: MSc in Materials and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Advanced Wear & Corrosion Resistant and Functional Materials, Jinan University, China
  • 09/2017-06/2021: BSc in New Energy Materials and Devices, School of Chemistry. South China Normal University, China

Research interest: Electrochemical energy conversion, proton exchange membrane water electrolysis, material synthesis, amorphous alloys

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surya pratap singh, Postdoctoral researcher

  • 08/ 2025 – now: Postdoctoral Researcher, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), Eindhoven, Netherlands.
  • 04/2022 – 03/2025: Assistant Professor, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan.
  • 04/2019 – 03/2022: Ph.D., Photocatalysis (Supervisor: Prof. Hisao Yoshida), Kyoto University, Japan.
  • 08/2016 – 06/2018: M.Sc. in Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT H), India.
  • 07/2013 – 06/2016: B.Sc. (Honors) in Chemistry, University of Delhi, India.
  • ORCID: 0000-0001-9064-4165.

ORCID: 0000-0001-9064-4165

Research interest: Solar energy driven chemical and fuel synthesis.

Hobbies: Watching movies, reading books, and listening to music with good lyrics.

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IOANNA NTEKOULI, Phd candidate

  • 2026 - Now: PhD Candidate, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), the Netherlands
  • 2025 - 2025: R&D Intern, Canon Production Printing B.V, the Netherlands
  • 2023 - 2025: MSc Chemical Engineering (Process Technology), Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
  • 2018 - 2022: BSc Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Research interest: Catalysis, Hydrogen Technology, Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis (PEMWE), Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC), Biomass Valorization, Material Synthesis

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ANGELA ANGELODIMOU, Phd candidate

  • 04/2026-now: PhD candidate, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy research (DIFFER) / University of Twente, The Netherlands
  • 10/2023-07-2025: Erasmus Mundus Msc Materials Science powered by Large scale facilities (MaMaSELF2), University of Turin, LMU Munich/TUM, University of Montpellier, Italy, Germany, France
  • 08/2020-06/2023: Bsc Liberal Arts and Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

Research interest: Integrated CO2 capture and conversion, mechanistic studies, energy materials.

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Bhavani Ravi, Phd candidate

  • 04/2026 - Now: PhD Candidate, DIFFER@TU/e, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), The Netherlands.
  • 09/2024 - 07/2025: M2 Nanochemistry, Université Grenoble Alpes, France.
  • 06/2021 - 05/2023: MSc Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India.
  • 06/2018 - 05/2021: BSc Chemistry, St. Joseph's College of Arts and Sciences, India.

Research interest: Electrochemical energy conversion technologies, CO2 electrolysis, water electrolysis, electrocatalysis, nanomaterial and electrode engineering, operando electrochemical characterization, and sustainable fuel and chemical production.