Hans Niemantsverdriet (Amsterdam 1951) studied Experimental Physics at the Free University (1978) and obtained his PhD in Technical Sciences from the Delft University of Technology (1983). In 1984 he received a ZWO Huygensfellowship, for spending 5 years at TU/e in the Laboratory Prof Roel Prins (Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry), with stays abroad at the University of München and the Fritz-Haber Institute, Berlin. In 1989, Hans was appointed Associate Professor at TU/e, and Full Professor in 1999. Assisted by NWO-Pionier and NWO-Groot grants, he built up an extensive surface science laboratory and formed a research group on the theme Physical Chemistry of Surfaces in Catalysis. He supervised 27 PhD students as First Promotor, and 5 as co-promotor. From 2001 - 2007, Hans served as Dean of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, as the successor of Prof Ruud Metselaar. In this capacity he also represented TU/e in international committees such as CLUSTER and CESAER, and the EuroTech Group. In 2012 Hans became Dean of the TU/e Graduate School, with the task to design a plan for this new organization. When ready (end of 2014) Hans partly retired and resumed his passion, namely fundamental research in catalysis and surface science. Hans did sabbaticals at Purdue University, Berkeley, and DTU, was visiting professor in several universities in the world (Helsinki University of Technology, UDCT Mumbai, EPFL Lausanne, METU Ankara, Tianjin University) and scientific advisor in Singapore, Japan, Finland, Turkey and South Africa. From 1996-2016, Hans served as Associated and Full Editor of the Journal of Catalysis, by then the flagship journal of the field. Hans published about 330 scientific articles, and two books, Spectroscopy in Catalysis (Wiley 1993) and Concepts of Modern Catalysis and Kinetics (together with Ib Chorkendorff; Wiley 2003), which both became worldwide adapted texts for education in catalysis. At present, Hans is Honorary Professor at Cardiff University (2013), Jiangsu University (2016) and the University of Cape Town (2018), while Aalto University (the former Helsinki University of Technology) appointed him Doctor Honoris Causa in October 2014. Since 2013, Hans established his own research company, Syngaschem BV, which was formed with financial support from Synfuels China Technology Co., Ltd. Together with its Director, Prof Yongwang Li, Hans planned and built the Research Institute SynCat@Beijing in Beijing-Huairou, and a partner laboratory SynCat@DIFFER in Eindhoven. The two laboratories focus on fundamental surface studies, photocatalysis (Beijing) and electrocatalysis (Eindhoven). Associated with the SynCat Labs is the SynCat Ac@demy, offering courses in catalysis, surface science, and scientific leadership development. Hans serves as scientific director of the SynCat organisation, until the end of 2023. Links: www.syngaschem.com www.syncatbeijing.com www.syncatacademy.com