Vianney Koelman is professor at the Department of Applied Physics at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and founding director of the Center for Computational Energy Research (CCER). The CCER is a collaboration between TU/e and DIFFER, the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research.  

Koelman joined the Applied Physics Department of TU/e following an impressive career in corporate R&D. He worked for Royal Dutch Shell for most of his working life in various international assignments (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Americas, Asia). He has been Chief Petrophysicist for Shell on two different continents and Vice President Computational R&D with a global responsibility for computational research. Before founding CCER, he founded Shell’s computational research center in Bangalore, India.  

His position as scientific director of the CCER allows Koelman to direct his passion for innovation in computer simulations towards his concerns for long-term energy security for mankind. His focus is to develop CCER into a successful and internationally competitive player in computational energy innovation.  

Vianney Koelman obtained his PhD in 1988 from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), on a project funded by the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter. From 1989 to 1996, he worked as researcher for Royal Shell, before taking a position as Head Petrophysics Marmul for Petroleum Development Oman until 2001. In 2001, Koelman returned to Shell. First as team leader, then as Chief Petrophysicist of Europe and later of Africa. In 2012, Koelman became General Manager Computational R&D in Bangalore, later taking a position as Vice President Computational R&D there. During that time, he was also an adviser to Shell’s CTO as Chief Scientist. After a total of 27 years at Shell, Koelman returned to TU/e as Full Professor in the Applied Physics department and as Scientific Director for the newly-founded Center for Computational Energy Research.