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17 June 2025

Future Rethinkers putting the transition into action

Dozens of students and interns recently shared their research during the Future Rethinkers Poster Challenge, a regular feature of the Future Rethinkers Conference. This edition marked a new milestone with the highest number of participants to date. In two presentation rounds, they engaged with visitors, researchers, and industry professionals to discuss their contributions to the materials- and energy transition.

The posters reflected the breadth and depth of MNEXT’s research projects. Students explored topics ranging from optimizing blue fungal pigments and creating bioplastics from green waste to developing circular foundations for soft soils. Other themes included energy storage, digital twins, chemical recycling, and CRISPR technology.

The students impressed with well-founded research, clear explanations, and contagious enthusiasm. Visitors listened closely, asked critical questions, and engaged in lively conversations. Even outside the official presentation rounds, the posters continued to attract attention—during breaks and between sessions, conference attendees lingered to explore the projects, even without direct explanation from the students. The sense of curiosity and excitement was tangible throughout the day.

A Platform for Future Talent

At the end of the day, a jury of MNEXT researchers awarded prizes during the closing networking reception. This edition’s top three winners were all affiliated with the Biobased Resources & Energy research group. First prize went to Javinah Wernet for her research on the valorization of green waste into bioplastic feedstock. Flavia Meo earned second place for her work on orange fungal pigments, and Laura Dorado Torres secured third place with her analysis of bacterial communities in fermentation processes.

The Poster Challenge, however, is about more than just winning. It’s about creating visibility, exchanging knowledge, and sparking inspiration. Through this platform, MNEXT gives students the opportunity to present their ideas to the outside world. This is how a new generation of Future Rethinkers is growing—the innovative thinkers and doers of tomorrow.

Research posters

Name student Titel Research group
Thierry Begeman The engineering of biobased epoxy resin Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Laura Dorado Torres Bacterial Community Characterization in VFAs Production from Industrial Waste Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Flavia Meo Hue Knew? Media Optimization of the Orange Fungal Colorant Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Valeria Schwartz Seaweed colors Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Noah Keukelaar The Extraction of Rubrocurcumin Derivative A from Polylactic Acid Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Hanae Joumad Optimization of the curing of liquified wood into epoxy networks Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Adreaan Mattheyssen Modified lignin as biobased flame retardant Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Wesley Meijer Metagenomics vs 16S gene sequencing: a comparative analysis Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Joey Matera In search of the optimal synthesis of rubrocurcumin derivatives. Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Shiwani van Ijzendoorn Preparation of a Cardanol-Based Epoxy Resin and Its Biochar Composite Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Gabriel den Blanken Development of depolymerized lignin acrylic coatings Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Martijn Prevoo Development of CRISTOFF: A bioinformatics pipeline for detecting CRISPR-Cas9 on- and off-target insertion and deletions Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Tijn Bothof Gene editing in A. niger using RNP-mediated CRISPR-Cas9 Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Nguyen Minh Tan Fueling the Blue: Optimizing Bioreactor Fermentations for Maximum Fungal Biomass Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Sophie Adriaans Fungal medium optimization for production of blue pigment Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Ghenwah Chreitah Coloring the future with sustainable dye extraction from biomass Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Jeroen Valkenburg Undyeing jeans with Acetone Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Ryan Arntz Synthesis of cardanol based epoxy resins Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Nalani Balcells FungAI: Optimizing Mycelium Bio-Composites Production Through AI Monitoring Biobased Construction
Merijn Verwijmeren Fungal phenotypic plasticity to temperature stress and the relation to pure mycelium materials Biobased Construction
Gabriël Girgis Degradation of pure mycelium strains over successive generations. Biobased Construction
Niobi Nolten Remanufacturing of mycelium biocomposites Biobased Construction
Kirsten Brouwer Biodegradable Plant Pots Made from Mycelium: A Circular Application of Organic Waste Biobased Construction
Paula Jerez Lifespan and Biodegradation Of Mycelium Bio-Composites Biobased Construction
Cecilia Cintra Costa Design of Geopolymer Panels Biobased Construction
Preslava Hristova Modular Connector System for Geopolymer Panels in Wet Areas Biobased Construction
Melaney Molanus Martinez Natural Reinforcement for Geopolymer Composite Biobased Construction
Stan van Dongen Growing the future: a comparitive LCA of locally grown hemp and flax insulation vs. imported alternatives Biobased Construction
Sander Dieleman Sustainable Foundations: Biobased upright extensions for dutch soft soils Biobased Construction / Biobased Resources & Energy / Biopolymer Application Centre
Kyra de Hart Model Development of VFA Production Using Starch Waste Feedstock Biobased Resources & Energy / Biobased Building Blocks & Products
Javinah Wernet Valorization of green waste as a building block for bioplastics Biobased Resources & Energy
Samantha Vollebregt The Chemical Recycling of Unsaturated Polyesters Biobased Resources & Energy
Cas de Jong Chemical recycling of amine cured epoxy resins Biobased Resources & Energy
Garrett M. Dublado LCA Hotspot of Phenolic Block Foam Biobased Resources & Energy
Ian Bartels Slow & Steady: Engineering Sustainable Fertilizers with PBSA, Biochar, and Urea. Biobased Resources & Energy
Julia van Raaij Producing VFAs On Starch-Waste-Activated Bacterial Fermentation Biobased Resources & Energy
Barbara Cristacemos Ramos Fonseca Chemical upcycling of polyolefin into upcycled waxes Biobased Resources & Energy
Carolina Alonso Environmental impact assessment of biobased fertilizer Biobased Resources & Energy
Justin Slagmolen Analyzing biopolymer/biochar Composites Biobased Resources & Energy
Eric Bles Energy Storage Plan Kenniskwartier Smart Energy
Joshua Meijer Theoretical pilot Micro-hydropower in France Smart Energy
Pieter Baelde Jansen ESP on Energyhub De Waterlaat Smart Energy
Nigel van Veen The Hidden Risk of the Energy Transition (and why Bitcoin Mining might be the answer) Smart Energy
Eduardo Rios de Andrade Sousa Digital Twin for a MECU Smart Energy
João Martins Digital Twin for a MECU Smart Energy
Joost van Dam Smart Charging, Smart Grid Smart Energy
Christopher Ranalli The Role of Feedstock Pricing in Bioplastic Production Cost Biobased Transitions