Dr. Maikel Wijtmans

Biography

Maikel Wijtmans is an associate professor of Medicinal Chemistry at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He studied Organic Chemistry at Radboud University Nijmegen, graduating in August 1998. After graduation, he worked as a temporary researcher in biocatalysis and organic oxidants at DSM Research in June 1999. Subsequently, he moved to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, USA, where he began his PhD focused on the development of organic ligands for nanocrystals and novel antioxidants, completing his work in 2003. Upon returning to the Netherlands, he joined the Division of Medicinal Chemistry as a postdoctoral fellow. Over the years, he has participated in various projects aimed at developing histamine-chemokine-receptor ligands and studying derivatization reagents using ESI-MS techniques. From 2009 to 2023, he was appointed as both an assistant and an associate professor specializing in Synthetic Medicinal Chemistry. His current research interests include the design and synthesis of compounds of biological interest. Wijtmans has also focused on educational innovation in chemistry and has received several grants for his efforts to promote active learning, including the national KNCV chemistry teaching award in 2013. He has presented workshops on educational innovations, specifically on blended learning and the flipped classroom model.

Research Interests