About Me
My name is Nicolas Steenbergen. In 1999, I was born in Germany to a German mother and a US-American father. The first six years of my life I spent in Germany, until my family moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. After five years, we moved back to Herrenberg, Germany, where I finished school. In 2019, I moved to Freiburg im Breisgau to study Microsystems Engineering.
On this and following pages you will find some information about me; my history, skills, interests and a bit of my personality.
I have always been passionate about technology and its applications, particularly in the field of life sciences. This passion led me to explore the fascinating world of optogenetics. This involves using light to control and study cells in living organisms. As part of my bachelor’s project at IMTEK, I worked on the development of an LED array for optogenetic stimulation of neuronal networks. This project allowed me to gain hands-on experience in designing and building complex systems, as well as to deepen my understanding of the principles of neuroscience and biotechnology.
During my studies, I joined Fraunhofer ISE, a leading research institute in the field of renewable energy. While at the institute, I was involved in a range of projects related to the development of cutting-edge GaAs (gallium arsenide) solar cells. My work there included performing technical processes for solar cell production and experimentation, as well as microscopy and clean room work.