Karel Luyben reappointed as Rector Magnificus

This is the second appointment to the position for Luyen. He succeeded Professor Jacob Fokkema as Rector Magnificus in January 2010. His initial appointment was endorsed by the Executive Board, the Works Council and the Student Council.



Originally from Tilburg, he earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering the Technical University of Eindhoven. He went on to earn a master’s degree in physical technology at the same university.



He has been at TU Delft since 1983 when he was appointed professor of biotechnical engineering. He later served as the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences from April 1998 through September 2009, leaving when offered appointed to the position of Rector Magnificus.



Luyben has held a number of other prestigious positions including Scientific Director of the Leiden-Delft Research School for Biotechnological Sciences. Luyben has published more than 200 articles and has promoted over thirty Ph.D. candidates as well as having four patents to his name.



Jeroen van der Veer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said “We wish Karel every success for his second term of office; we feel it is a good thing for TU Delft to have continuity in Administration.” The members of the TU Delft Supervisory Board are appointed by the Minister of Education, Culture and Science and the board is responsible for a variety of tasks aside from appointing the Rector Magnificus including approval of management and administrative regulations, the institutional plan and the budget and the annual report.



The TU Delft Supervisory Board cited Luyben’s “energetic efforts on behalf of TU Delft” in their appointment. Luyben describes himself as both enthusiastic and intense, saying in a 2010 interview with Delft Outlook, “When I do something, I do it with ‘high intensity’. When I cycle, I cycle fast. If I’m investigating something, I want to know every last detail. And if I’m repairing something, I don’t give up until it is working as good as new. In fact whatever I do, I do it with such intensity that some people get a little irritated.”