Prof. Dr Jan van Esch grew up in Tilburg and studied chemistry in Utrecht, majoring in physical chemistry and biochemistry. In early 1993 he gained his doctorate in Nijmegen, researching the synthesis of bilayer membranes under Prof. Roeland Nolte. His PhD dissertation was entitled: “Synthetic bilayer membranes: in search of supramolecular catalysts”. He then worked at various locations that included Mainz, specialising in supramolecular chemistry, realising new functions and improving functions by the organisation of molecules. In the research groups of Feringa and Kellogg in Groningen Van Esch focused on the self-assembly of small organic molecules, above all with a view to understanding and explaining the process of gelling. He will be continuing this work in Delft, with the goal of arriving at functional systems for such processes at catalysis, separation, storage and sensing. Making such a structure is one thing. Maintaining it and controlling the process is quite another. Van Esch regards this as a major challenge and sees strong support for his work in Delft, provided by DelftChemTech itself and also through the opportunities for collaboration in the field of nanoscience. Van Esch is one of the new professors at DCT who will be concentrating on nanochemistry.