dr.ir. DPBTB (David) Strik

As an environmental technologist, I enjoy exploring and contributing to knowledge creation, education, and the valorization of biorefinery approaches that foster the circular economy. I obtained my PhD in Anaerobic Digestion from BOKU University in Austria (2004) and completed my MSc in Environmental Sciences at Wageningen University (1999). Since 2006, I have been employed at Wageningen University, where I currently serve as an Associate Professor (with ius promovendi). Additionally, I am the Platform Manager of UNLOCK, a large-scale open infrastructure for microbial research, accessible to both academic researchers and commercial entities.

My Carboxylate Group investigates the use of micro-organisms in open-culture bioreactors to recover carbon materials from organic, bioplastic, and CO₂ waste streams by producing various biochemicals. Moreover, we explore electrochemical recovery techniques to extract products such as volatile fatty acids. To assess the feasibility of these technologies at an early stage, we conduct life cycle assessments (LCA), techno-economic analyses (TEA), and system engineering studies. Our research supports the establishment of the Carboxylate Platform and specializes in microbial chain elongation processes.

As an environmental technologist, I enjoy exploring and contributing to knowledge creation, education, and the valorization of biorefinery approaches that foster the circular economy. I obtained my PhD in Anaerobic Digestion from BOKU University in Austria (2004) and completed my MSc in Environmental Sciences at Wageningen University (1999). Since 2006, I have been employed at Wageningen University, where I currently serve as an Associate Professor (with ius promovendi). Additionally, I am the Platform Manager of UNLOCK, a large-scale open infrastructure for microbial research, accessible to both academic researchers and commercial entities.

My Carboxylate Group investigates the use of micro-organisms in open-culture bioreactors to recover carbon materials from organic, bioplastic, and CO₂ waste streams by producing various biochemicals. Moreover, we explore electrochemical recovery techniques to extract products such as volatile fatty acids. To assess the feasibility of these technologies at an early stage, we conduct life cycle assessments (LCA), techno-economic analyses (TEA), and system engineering studies. Our research supports the establishment of the Carboxylate Platform and specializes in microbial chain elongation processes.

Reference picture: Strik et al. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. (2022) https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2022.894490