Welcome to CHILL, where we facilitate talent development for a sustainable world in chemistry, materials and biotech. How we do that? By making education and business work together effortlessly.
Talent development, 3D breast prostheses and mommy day
When we meet her, she is printing out consumption vouchers for the 1001 ideas festival on campus. Chantalle Niessen has been working for six years as junior researcher for CHILL at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus. Her job at CHILL is to maintain the "additive manufacturing" lab, or 3D printing.
Every day she makes sure that everything is in order: the lab must be safe, the equipment up-to-date and the printing materials (filaments) must be ordered. In addition, Chantalle is also mom to a 10-month-old daughter Michelle.
Contributing a print
Chantalle is not just responsible for the lab and her infant daughter. She also coaches students and supports companies in their research into new materials. Chantalle: "At CHILL, we coach students on customer projects. That's a great motivation for the student because you're not doing a standard school project. Laughing, she adds, "A project that has been the same for twenty years, and that teachers really do know the answer to. It makes students feel like they can really do their part," she says, "just like me!
Personalia
- Who: Chantalle Niessen
- Age: 26 years old
- Birthplace: Sittard-Geleen
- Position: junior-researcher additive manufacturing
- CHILLer since: 2018
3D breast prostheses
Glowing, she talks about Shap3D up (Hashtagtwo), a startup that makes personalized breast prostheses. 'Now there is a standard breast prosthesis made of silicone, which we have been using since the 1960s. Women can't do a lot of things with this: swimming and running, for example.' Shap3D up develops breast prostheses by mirroring the woman's own breast and then 3D printing it out of breathable and permeable material. This is much more comfortable and, in addition, pressure points that hurt can be easily adjusted. 'Shap3D up started as a small startup at CHILL and now produces the prostheses themselves. We still have good contact!'
'I learn from the students'
Chantalle: "Working with students is fun. The idea that you are contributing to their development, I can really enjoy that. Sometimes, just like motherhood, it is quite challenging. For example, when students are not feeling well.' She sees it as a challenge to expand her teaching skills: 'Students learn from my practical experience and expertise within additive manufacturing, and I learn from them every day.'
All-in-one lab
Labs are also a godsend for companies. Companies purchase a package from CHILL. They can then use students for their research, but can also come and do their own research in the labs. So students, junior researchers and companies work side by side. That's great, says Chantalle: "The companies often have technological knowledge and understand that sometimes something doesn't work. If they do not have this technical knowledge, it is good that they are present so that they can experience the process and I can show them whether a material prints well or not.'
'If companies don't have the technical knowledge, it's good for them to be there and I can show them if a material prints well, or not.'
Especially for startups, it is nice that they can do research here without immediately starting their own lab. Because they work with students and young researchers, the costs are lower. Moreover, you can find all areas of expertise here together. An all-in-one lab really. 'Whereas normally you have to go from one company to another with your product if you want to do research into 3D printing and then do a chemical or biological test,' Chantalle adds. At CHILL you can do it all!
Mom Day
CHILL allows Chantalle to take a mommy day one day a week, while maintaining her contract hours. So she can also fully enjoy the steps her little daughter Michelle, now 10 months old, is making. 'You don't have to take a mommy day like that,' she says, but she herself really likes that this is possible. It's a time that will never come back and the fact that I can experience it while keeping my hours is really nice.