Björn Heijstra
About Björn Heijstra
Björn Heijstra is the Director of Process Validation at LanzaTech, where he has worked since 2012. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Auckland and has extensive experience in scientific and technical roles across multiple countries.
Current Role at LanzaTech
Björn Heijstra serves as the Director of Process Validation at LanzaTech, a position he has held since 2012. He is based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. In this role, he oversees the validation processes critical to the company’s operations, ensuring that the technologies developed meet necessary standards and regulations.
Previous Experience at LanzaTech
Before his current role, Björn Heijstra worked at LanzaTech in various capacities. He served as a Technical Advisor for six months in 2012 in Shanghai, China. Additionally, he was a Scientist from 2009 to 2012 in Auckland, New Zealand. He also contributed to conference and public speaking efforts from 2014 to 2017, enhancing the company's outreach and communication.
Educational Background
Björn Heijstra earned his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Auckland, completing his studies from 2005 to 2009. Prior to this, he obtained a Master of Science from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) from 2001 to 2003. He also holds a Bachelor of Science from Hogeschool Inholland / Inholland University of Applied Sciences, which he completed from 1997 to 2001.
Early Career Experience
Björn Heijstra began his career at TNO, where he worked as a BSc Research Project participant focused on GMO from 2000 to 2001 in Zeist, Utrecht, Netherlands. This early experience contributed to his foundational knowledge in scientific research and development.