Mert Orhan Astam – ESR 8

Background

Mert Orhan Astam is a PhD student at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry in Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). He joined the STORM-BOTS programme in July 2021 as a junior researcher in the field of soft robotics with liquid crystal elastomers. Working together with the Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials & Devices research group at TU/e, his main research interest focuses on developing electrically driven liquid crystal actuators for devices.

Prior to pursuing his PhD at TU/e, Orhan completed the integrated Master (M.Eng.) course in Materials Science and Engineering in Imperial College London with First Class Honours. For his M.Eng. thesis, he wanted to develop a better understanding of cold-sintering, especially in vaterite. To do so, he focused on computerised microscopic image analysis methods.

Mert Orhan Astam has an international background, engaging in study and work in multi-national and multi-cultural environments for his entire career. Outside of the university setting, he has experience in process engineering through employment in a chocolate factory in the Netherlands, where he successfully solved materials-related problems in production. Furthermore, he also built knowledge on sustainable energy at a well-known clean-technologies advisory company in Germany.

Research Interests

Liquid crystals, actuators, electrically driven, movement induction, soft robotics.