Presenters

Biography Jorrit D.J. van den Berg, Forensic scientist, Netherlands Forensic Institute

Currently, dr. van den Berg is employed at the NFI, the Netherlands Forensic Institute and  one of the three sworn experts in the Netherlands on illicit drug analysis and interpretation, including drug comparison and drug production.

Dr. van den Berg has a background in analytical chemistry for more than 20 years.  He did his PhD on the analysis of traditional oil paints from old master paintings at FOM-institute AMOLF/UvA. New analytical methods were developed using a broad scale of analytical techniques. In 2001, dr. van den Berg switched to the field of illicit drug analysis and participated in profiling studies  of synthetic drugs like amphetamine and MDMA. In 2005 he started his career as an expert witness in the field of illicit drugs.

For the past fifteen years, Dr. van den Berg main scientific interest has centered on research and development in the area of the analysis of  illicit drugs and the investigation of clandestine laboratories. Special focus has been  given to the identification of new drugs and drug precursors and the investigation of their production or conversion processes. The use of mobile, easy to operate analytical  equipment for drug analysis in the field also have his interest.

Taco van der Maten is marketing manager at MalvernPanalytical in Almelo, the Netherlands. In this position, he is responsible for the global polymer, oils, fuels, petrochemicals, and environmental markets at MalvernPanalytical, a worldwide supplier of analytical instrumentation and software for particle size distribution, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, near infrared spectroscopy,cross-belt analyzers based on pulsed fast and thermal neutron activation technology, and sample preparation equipment for several analytical techniques.

Past-chair of the Board of Directors of ASTM International for 2020-2021, and a chair of the board for 2019. An ASTM member since 2006 and a member of ISO TC 19 on fuels.

In 1985, the year he graduated from the Dr. Ir. W.L. Ghijsen Institute in Utrecht with a degree in analytical chemistry,van der Maten became a research chemist for Heineken. He then worked as research chemist, service delivery manager, and business development manager at RoyalDSM N.V. in Sittard-Geleen before joining the PANalytical staff in 2006.