Matteo Monai is tenure track assistant professor at Utrecht University’ Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group. His research focuses on structure-activity relationships in nanostructured heterogeneous catalysts for small molecules activation (e.g. CO₂ hydrogenation, dry methane reforming) and biomass conversion. My aim is to obtain fundamental insights into selective and efficient bond activation (e.g. C-H vs C-O or C-S) by pushing the boundaries of rational catalysts design to break scaling relationships, and by further developing the operando spectroscopy capabilities of the ICC group (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis).