“Tuning mechanical performance requires knowledge of processing and application, and how they are affected by material and design”

Tom Engels is a part-time Assistant Professor (UD) in polymer mechanics at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Areas of expertise include polymer mechanics, polymer physics and polymer processing, with key expertise resting on the first. Focus in his research lies on connecting processing conditions to final properties of polymers and polymer based composites, taking their chemical structure and related physics into account. As a part-time assistant professor he acts as a linking pin between academia and industry.

Tom Engels studied Mechanical Engineering at TU/e where he received MSc (with honors) 2005 and his PhD (with honors) in 2008, with prof. dr. ir. H.E.H. Meijer as his advisor and prof. dr. ir. L.E Govaert and prof. dr. ir. G.W.M. Peters as his co-advisors. In addition to his work at TU/e, Tom works at the DSM Materials Science Center, as Principal Scientist with polymer mechanics as his expertise and is active for all Performance Materials groups within DSM. As such he holds a broad expertise in polymer mechanics and processing related topics, ranging from engineering plastics and composite applications, all the way to the production and performance of ultra-strong fibers.