After receiving a cum laude distinction for his Master’s thesis, Dr Gerrit Ter Haar went on to complete his PhD at the University of Stellenbosch, where he graduated in 2021. His postgraduate research was in the field of materials engineering – with a focus on the additive manufacturing (3D printing) of metals, thermal treatments and characterisation techniques such as electron scanning microscopy, X-ray diffraction and tensile strength testing.

He has published in high impact journals such as Materials Science and Engineering: A and Acta Materialia and has contributed to a book chapter. Dr Ter Haar has presented at international conferences in Germany and Norway and spent 3 months on a research visit to KU Leuven, Belgium. In addition to his publications in the field of additive manufacturing, he has also published on the chemical surface treatment of metals and the process development of titanium dioxide nanostructures. He currently has more than 350 citations with his paper published in the journal Materials having been cited more than 185 times.

He has participated in the co-supervision of several undergraduate and postgraduate students and is a reviewer for multiple scholarly publications, including the Journal of Alloys and Compounds and Materials Characterization. Additionally, Dr Ter Haar holds a position on the review committee for the annual international conference organized by the Rapid Product Development Association of South Africa.

During the period of 2022-2023, Dr Ter Haar served as a lecturer during which he provided instruction in various subjects, including material science and strength of materials. This professional experience contributed significantly to the development of his teaching capabilities and project management competencies.

In 2024, Dr. Ter Haar commenced his appointment as a postdoctoral researcher within the Faculty of Engineering’s Green Hydrogen Platform. In this role, he is pursuing research of smart manufacturing techniques and novel materials development to create advanced titanium electrodes that deliver enhanced performance in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis systems. On this topic, he has submitted a paper to the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy and has presented his research at the Southern African Sustainable Energy Conference. In addition to his academic activities, he is also expanding the hydrogen electrolysis research laboratory in the Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering Department through the acquisition of additional electrolysis infrastructure and testing equipment.