Erik is a 2010-2014 Self Fellow pursuing a Ph.D. in chemical and petroleum engineering. He received a B.S. in engineering with a chemical concentration (2009) from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI.
At Calvin Erik was awarded the Presidential Scholarship for four years, the Jack and Eleanor Elenbaas Family Engineering Scholarship, and the Calvin Junior Engineering Scholarship. Erik served as an intern in the process development lab at Boehringer Ingelheim, in Ingelheim, Germany, where he worked to optimize processes for developing active pharmaceutical ingredients. He has also worked as a teaching assistant at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and as a laboratory assistant at Calvin. Erik was a three time NCAA Division III Cross Country All American, a two time Academic All American, and was captain of the 2009 Calvin College Track and Field Team. He was selected in 2009 to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Track/Cross Country Team.
Erik's current research focuses on hydrogels and their use in drug delivery. Erik's long-term goal is to become a leader in a global pharmaceutical company.