Started at Topsoe August 2007 Education MSc in chemical engineering, currently a PhD student Personal Karen is 27 years old and works as a PhD student in Research & Development

Optimising catalysis

In short, I’m trying to optimise the catalysis through mesoporous materials, and the purpose of my project is to find catalytic materials which are more porous. These mesoporous materials have pores with a 2-5 nm diameter. What makes them interesting is that they are often more catalytically active than microporous materials which have smaller pores (less than 2nm). When we have found the materials they are tested to see if they can be used for hydrocracking.
 
I spend most of my time in the laboratory, where I plan and carry out experiments. As a PhD student I have to keep up to date in my field by reading international journals. When I achieve some scientific results of my own, I will publish my own articles as well.

Creating results

Working with Topsoe as a PhD gives me insight into “the real world”. I get an idea of what it's like to actually go to work, and it’s great to see how a company works from the inside. Seeing that your work might be used commercially also adds to your motivation.

I’m really happy working for Topsoe. I have a lot of freedom as well responsibility. In other words you can go your own ways, but you are not forgotten by your colleagues. Besides, there are good opportunities to be creative and innovative. If you get an idea, you have to test it, and if it doesn’t work the first time, you just have to try again and again, until it works.

Friendly colleagues

It would be an obvious choice to continue working for Topsoe when I have finished my PhD in 2010. I like it here - there is a great working environment. My colleagues aren’t just colleagues, but friends as well. We are very sociable; we go curling together and to the cinema.