Tom Leyssens

Contribution to scientific knowledge. 

Tom Leyssens obtained a PhD in theoretical chemistry at the Uclouvain in 2006. After a short post-doctoral stay at the Max-Planck-Institute for Kohlenforschung, he then moved to industry, working as a Team Leader at UCB Pharma, where he was introduced to process development and in particular to the crystallization process. Here he also gained scientific independence and people management skills. Returning to the UCLouvain in 2009, he started a group in crystal engineering and crystallization process development with a particular focus on pharmaceutical compounds. His group introduced cocrystallization as a resolution tool. Exploring the full solid-state potential, other multi-component systems were also explored for chiral resolution. Bringing this work to the next level, recovery of the undesired enantiomer was obtained, by the development of crystallization-based deracemization processes. The last decade, Tom Leyssens’ group has focused on using their knowledge in crystal engineering for the development of more sustainable processes. In this context they looked at the use of CO2 as a crystallization solvent, and the possibility of removing the solvent from the process using mechanochemistry as a resolution tool. Tom Leyssens.

People Management and Development.

Tom Leyssens has trained 27 PhD students (20 completed, 7 ongoing), 3 Postdocs (1 ongoing, 2 completed). Tom Leyssens places importance in transferring soft-skills, making postdoctoral fellows responsible for the training of PhD students, and PhD students for the training of MS students. Former people of his group, are now employed in various team-leading positions in pharmaceutical industry (UCB, GSK, Trasis, …), working for society (AFSCA, EPHEC, …) or aiming at developing a carreer in academia (G. Mercier is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Université of Montréal, and D. Baier aims at obtaining a position in Germany). Tom Leyssens makes sure the group particpates to international conferences, and places importance on letting postdoctoral fellows and PhD students present their own results.  

Advancing the broader field of research.

Tom Leyssens is internationnally recognized for his expertise in thermodynamics of the crystallization process. He has been an invited speaker at multiple international conferences (CGOM, ECCG, ISIC, …). He has furthermore contributed to two book chapters, one in crystallization process thermodynamics, and an upcoming educational book chapter in mechanochemistry. Tom Leyssens is also very active in international collaborations, having collaborated outside Europe (CONFAP, MIT-SEED fund) as well as in Europe (Horizon), and is particularly involved in COST actions. During two COST actions (BEST-CSP, Crystallization) he intervened as work-group leaders, and actively sent out his PhD students for STSM-internships. Tom Leyssens is also on the advisory board of the Irish SSPC, the center for pharmaceutical process development, is the Belgian representative at the European Network for Crystal Growth, and is currently the president of the Belgian Committee for Crystallography. 

Contribution to broader society. 

Tom Leyssens’ teaching focuses on transposing his knowledge in physical chemistry to future scientists. He intervenses in the departments of Bio-engineering, Science and Engineering, where he focuses on introducing thermodynamics, phase diagrams, kinetics and statistical thermodynamics to a variety of students. In the later years, he teaches specialized courses in crystallization and crystal engineering. Tom Leyssens also teaches at international level, intervening on a yearly basis in the MS in crystallization at the University of Rouen. He also intervenes in the organization of teaching, being president of the School of Chemistry for six years, and having served as administrative responsible for the MS for the last 10 years. Tom Leyssens is also engaged in national (RSC, crystallography) and international (ENCG) organisations, which focus on bringing crystallography and crystallization to a broader public, through activities as crystal growing competitions, presenting science to high-school students, and dissemination of science results.