Hauke Smidt is a Personal Professor at Wageningen University & Research, affiliated with the Molecular Ecology group within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences. His research focuses on microbial ecology, particularly gut microbiota dynamics, antibiotic resistance, environmental microbiology, and the One Health framework. Smidt has supervised over 50 PhD students and contributed to 519 publications, including studies on microbiome resilience, fermented food impacts, and bioremediation strategies. Education and affiliations include leadership roles in projects addressing antimicrobial resistance, pig health, and drinking water microbiology. His work spans collaborations across Europe and Asia, with notable contributions to understanding microbial community responses to environmental stressors and dietary interventions. Smidt is actively involved in public outreach, as seen in media contributions discussing microbiome research and health benefits. Key projects include aquifer treatment for drinking water, microbiome simulation models, and combating plant pathogens. His awards and recognition are not explicitly listed, but his extensive publication record and project leadership highlight significant academic impact.
Phuong H. Nguyen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). He leads the digital Power & Energy Systems (digi-PES) lab, focusing on smart energy systems, distributed control, and IoT integration for future energy grids. His research addresses energy transition challenges, including microgrid optimization, flexibility markets, and data-driven grid management. Nguyen holds a PhD from TU/e (2010) and has held visiting researcher positions at Clemson University. His work contributes to UN SDG goals related to affordable and clean energy. Education: Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology (2002) Master's in Electrical Engineering, Asian Institute of Technology (2004) PhD in Electrical Engineering, TU/e (2010) Key Research Areas: Smart Grids and Cyber-Physical Systems Distributed Energy Resource Management Local Energy Markets and Flexibility Provision IoT and Big Data in Energy Systems Awards & Recognition: Best Paper Award SEST 2020 Projects & Grants: REACT-D: Reactive Power Management (Project Manager) Al-driven Applications to Smarten Power System Operation (Project Lead) UNIversity Campus as a Self-Regulated Network (Co-Manager) Labs & Teams: The digi-PES lab develops cyber-physical tools for energy transition, including microgrid simulations, flexibility markets, and grid resilience strategies.
Bram Duivenvoorde is an Associate Professor at the Molengraaff Institute for Private Law , Utrecht University , specializing in advertising law , consumer law , and e-commerce . He holds a PhD from the University of Amsterdam (2014) and combines academic research with practical legal experience, including roles as an attorney-at-law at Hoogenraad & Haak (2014-2020) and interim legal counsel at Heineken International (2018). His work focuses on digital society , personalized marketing , and AI regulation in consumer contexts. Education : PhD (UvA, 2014), LLM (Utrecht, 2009), LLB (Utrecht, 2007) Key Research Areas : Advertising Law, Consumer Law, Digital Regulation, EU Law, Personalized Marketing Recent publications analyze generative AI , deepfakes , and DSA compliance , emphasizing consumer protection in evolving digital landscapes. He supervises PhD candidates Thijs Kelder and Jorn Torenbosch and leads the LLM Honours Programme . Duivenvoorde contributes to European consumer law through RENFORCE initiatives and serves as Editor for journals like Intellectuele Eigendom en Reclamerecht .
Erik P.M. Vermeulen is a Full Professor of Business and Financial Law at Tilburg University and a key researcher at the Tilburg Law and Economics Center (TILEC) in the Netherlands. He also serves as Senior Counsel Corporate/Vice President at Philips International B.V. , focusing on corporate governance, M&A, and securities law. His academic work spans comparative company law, innovation, and sustainable legal frameworks. Current Affiliation: Professor at Tilburg Law School Practice: Corporate governance and venture capital at Philips His research explores how legal structures influence corporate competitiveness and innovation, particularly in digitalization and AI. He emphasizes the intersection of Law & Technology , Responsible Organizations , and Entrepreneurial Finance . Recent article trends include insights on: 2025: AI-driven corporate transformation and global compliance 2024: Gen X's tech struggles and urban well-being 2020: Evolution of governance frameworks He directs Tilburg's International Business Law Program and advises SMEs through the International Venture Club . His global teaching spans institutions in Colombia, Belgium, Japan, and Israel.
Prof. Dr. Madalina Busuioc is a Full Professor of Public Governance at the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She serves as Director of the Graduate School of Social Sciences and co-Director of the R&I Lab on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Governance. Her ERC-funded research explores public accountability in the AI era, with a focus on algorithmic governance and cognitive biases in administrative decision-making. She holds a PhD cum laude from Utrecht University (2010). Her research interests center on public power dynamics, algorithmic governance, and institutional accountability. Notable contributions include work on AI's impact on citizen-state interactions, reputational authority in bureaucracy, and regulatory oversight mechanisms. Her book European Agencies: Law and Practices of Accountability (Oxford UP) and peer-reviewed articles in Public Administration Review , Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory , and Governance highlight her scholarly impact. Teaching contributions include designing the MSc Public Administration: Artificial Intelligence and Governance program, which integrates technical and governance perspectives. Awards include the Haldane Prize (2016) and Fernand Braudel Fellowship (2021). She advises on AI policy through ancillary roles like membership in the Meijers Commission on international law. Her research projects address AI ethics, algorithmic accountability, and regulatory innovation. Recent work explores behavioral dimensions of human-AI collaboration in public services and the societal implications of AI adoption in administrative systems.
Dr. Jarno Hoekman is an Associate Professor in Innovation Studies at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University. His research focuses on the dynamics and governance of science in the context of innovation, regulation, and societal challenges, with particular emphasis on sustainability and health. He is affiliated with both the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development and the Utrecht collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy & Regulation in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Dr. Hoekman serves as the programme leader of the research master in Innovation Sciences and teaches academic integrity courses to Master students and PhD candidates. Dr. Hoekman's research is organized around three interconnected themes: Science in transition , examining how scientific practices and institutional arrangements are evolving through open science, interdisciplinary research collaborations, and alternative recognition systems; Regulatory science and innovation , investigating innovations in tools and standards for assessing risks and benefits of new technologies, including safety assessment methods and regulatory authorization standards; and Geography of science , exploring the role of location factors in scientific knowledge production and diffusion. Analysis of Dr. Hoekman's recent publications (2022-2024) reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus spanning pharmacology, toxicology, innovation studies, and science policy. Key research trends include examining conditional marketing authorization pathways, post-approval studies for conditionally authorized medicines, animal-free safety testing methodologies, and the societal impact of transdisciplinary research projects. His work frequently employs mixed-methods approaches and involves multi-stakeholder perspectives to address complex regulatory and innovation challenges. Dr. Hoekman actively contributes to policy-relevant research, including major European Commission studies on pharmaceutical legislation. His collaborative work extends across multiple institutions and involves interdisciplinary teams working on pharmaceutical policy, sustainable innovation, and science-society interactions. As a member of the Utrecht Young Academy and the UU Open Science Platform, he engages with broader academic community initiatives related to research integrity and open science practices.
Leonie Bentsink is a Professor at the Laboratory of Plant Physiology , part of Wageningen University . Her research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying seed dormancy, germination, and longevity in plants like Arabidopsis thaliana . She leads projects investigating translational regulation, seed microbiomes, and abiotic stress tolerance, supported by an NWO Vici grant (2018). Dr. Bentsink supervises multiple PhD candidates and has authored over 69 publications. Key contributions include discovering roles for genes like DOG1 and ANAC060 in dormancy regulation, and developing tools like the SeedTransNet translational network. Key Projects: Seed microbiome impacts on drought tolerance Seed germination cell communication mechanisms Spatial transcriptomics for abiotic stress resilience Datasets: 11 publicly available datasets on seed transcriptomes/metabolomes, including seed dormancy cycling and parental effect studies. Citations: Over 70 publications since 2000, with notable work on seed longevity and translational regulation.
Prof. Jack van der Vorst is the Personal Professor of AgriFood Supply Chain Logistics at Wageningen University's Operations Research and Logistics Group. Previously serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Wageningen University & Research (until 2024) and General Director of the Social Sciences Group, he leads over 1000 personnel across three institutes. His advisory roles include the Topteam AgriFood (Science Captain), Top consortium for Knowledge and Innovation (TKI), The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), and Florensis BV's Supervisory Board. With 20+ PhD supervisions and 200+ publications, his research focuses on innovative logistics concepts in AgriFood systems, including supply chain resilience, sustainability, and system innovation. His work integrates modeling frameworks with practical industry applications, emphasizing perishable products, horizontal collaboration, and environmental efficiency. Research interests span AgriFood System Design, Supply Chain Strategy, and Performance Management. His recent studies address challenges like postharvest loss reduction in developing countries, CO2 emission minimization in cold chains, and circular economy implementation in mushroom supply chains. Methodologically, he employs multi-criteria decision models, optimization techniques, and simulation to address complex logistics problems. Publications highlight themes such as horizontal collaboration success factors, vulnerability assessment frameworks, and green supply chain design. His work bridges academic rigor with industry needs, often collaborating with policymakers and international organizations to promote sustainable agri-food systems.
Dr. Julia Kamenz is an Assistant Professor (Rosalind Franklin fellow) at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Science and Engineering, where she leads research in the Molecular Systems Biology group within the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB). Her work focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell cycle progression and cell division. Dr. Kamenz received her undergraduate training in Biochemistry at the University of Tuebingen, completed her PhD at the Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society under Dr. Silke Hauf (defended February 2015 with highest honors), and conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University with Prof. James E. Ferrell. Her PhD work was supported by a Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds fellowship, and her postdoc was funded by a German Research Foundation (DFG) Postdoctoral Fellowship. Her research expertise spans cell cycle regulation and dynamics, post-translational modifications, Xenopus laevis model systems, and live cell microscopy. Dr. Kamenz investigates how kinases and phosphatases intricately regulate cell proliferation and division, with particular interest in the molecular mechanisms that ensure faithful chromosome segregation during mitosis. Her recent work has revealed novel insights into mitotic checkpoint signaling, particularly in early embryonic development where these checkpoints appear to function differently than in somatic cells. Dr. Kamenz's publication record demonstrates a strong focus on the dynamics of cell cycle transitions, with recent papers appearing in high-impact journals including Nature, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, and The Journal of Cell Biology. Her research integrates experimental biochemistry, live-cell imaging, and computational modeling approaches to understand complex regulatory networks. ERC Starting Grant (November 2022) NWO Vidi Grant (July 2021) Mansour Postdoctoral Travel Award (2019) Dr. Kamenz has secured significant research funding including an ERC Starting Grant (€1.5 million) and an NWO XS grant (€50,000) for her project "What limits mitotic checkpoint signaling in the early embryo?" Her research contributes to understanding fundamental biological processes with implications for developmental biology and cancer research. She collaborates extensively within the University of Groningen and with international partners, particularly in the areas of cell cycle research and biophysical approaches to biological problems. Dr. Kamenz leads a research group focused on cell cycle regulation within the Molecular Systems Biology division of the Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute. Her lab combines biochemical approaches using Xenopus egg extracts with live-cell imaging and computational modeling to dissect the molecular mechanisms controlling cell division.
Anne Margriet Pot is an endowed professor at the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM), Erasmus University Rotterdam, with a focus on Health Care Governance. She also holds the position of extraordinary professor at Optentia, North West University, South Africa. Additionally, she serves as a strategic advisor for Long-Term Care at the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate, Ministry of Health, the Netherlands, and is President-elect of the International Psychogeriatric Association. She co-chairs the Lancet Commission on Long-Term Care for Older Persons and has advised the World Health Organization (2014–2018). Her research is deeply rooted in improving the mental health and quality of life of older adults, particularly through innovations in long-term care. Key areas include the measurement of care quality, development of technology-based interventions for mental well-being, and the use of narrative methods in care regulation. Her work significantly contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to health and well-being. The most recent publications highlight a strong trend toward meta-analytic and scoping review methodologies, focusing on subthreshold depression interventions, narrative approaches in youth and elderly care, and inclusive regulatory frameworks. These works reflect a shift toward evidence synthesis and policy-oriented research with global applicability. President-elect, International Psychogeriatric Association Co-chair, The Lancet Commission on Long-Term Care for Older Persons Strategic Advisor, Long-Term Care, Health and Youth Care Inspectorate, Netherlands Former Advisor, World Health Organization (2014–2018) She has authored over 235 publications, including the influential Dutch Manual on Geropsychology and a recent book on caregiver dilemmas. She is currently establishing a research program on person-centred and integrated long-term care regulation at ESHPM. Her work bridges clinical psychology, health policy, and public governance, with strong international collaborations, particularly in Africa and through global health initiatives. While no formal students are listed, her leadership in large-scale research projects suggests mentorship and team-based research training. She is actively involved in multiple research networks and has contributed to policy development at national and international levels. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates psychology, public health, and narrative ethics to transform long-term care systems.
Dr. Victor Reys is a 30-year-old Researcher at the Utrecht University , affiliated with the College of Science and the Biomolecular Sciences group. His work focuses on NMR Spectroscopy and the application of Bio-Chemo-Informatics tools to understand living systems. Expertise: Bioinformatics, Machine Learning, Cheminformatics Skills: Python, HTML, Bash, JavaScript His research bridges Chemistry and Biology , emphasizing computational approaches to study small compound-protein interactions and regulatory mechanisms in life sciences. He holds a PhD from the University of Montpellier and is dedicated to advancing integrative bioinformatics methodologies.
M.T.O. (Chiel) Jonker is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Utrecht University , affiliated with the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) and its Toxicology division . He specializes in exposure assessment of hydrophobic organic chemicals (e.g., PFAS , PAHs , PCBs ), focusing on sorption processes , bioaccumulation dynamics , and passive sampling techniques in both in vivo and in vitro settings. His research emphasizes methodological innovation for high-quality chemical analysis (GC-MS, LC-MS) and environmental risk assessment . Recent work includes PFAS degradation , sediment toxicity testing , and temperature/salinity effects on contaminant partitioning. His 2018-2024 publications highlight passive sampling calibration , mechanistic toxicity models , and bioavailability prediction using polyoxymethylene and silicone rubber samplers .
Jan Aart Scholte is Professor of Global Transformations and Governance Challenges at Leiden University, with joint appointments in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences and the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs. He leads Leiden’s interfaculty GTGC programme, focusing on global governance dynamics. Research Interests : Globalization, polycentric governance, legitimacy in international systems, global democracy, civil society, and Internet governance. Grants : Funded by Ford Foundation, German Ministry of Education, Global Challenges Foundation, Nuffield Foundation, and others. His recent publications emphasize multistakeholder legitimacy, data governance, and polycentrism in global affairs. He teaches courses on governing a global world and supervises PhD candidates in related fields. Labs/Teams : Collaborates with the Legitimacy in Global Governance (LegGov) programme and regional internet governance networks in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
Iryna Susha serves as an Assistant Professor in the Innovation Studies group within the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences. Her academic journey includes obtaining a PhD from Orebro University in Sweden, establishing her expertise in digital governance and data collaboration frameworks. Dr. Susha's research focuses on how organizations across different sectors can collaborate and leverage data to address 21st century societal challenges while contributing to sustainability goals. Her work spans digital government, open data initiatives, and data collaboratives for public good, with particular attention to cross-sector partnerships, data governance models, and the practical implementation challenges of data sharing initiatives. She has developed significant expertise in analyzing how data ecosystems can be structured to support societal benefits while navigating complex regulatory and organizational landscapes. Her publication record shows a clear evolution from early work on e-participation and open government data toward more sophisticated frameworks for data collaboratives and digital innovation for sustainability. The research demonstrates consistent engagement with practical implementation challenges while maintaining strong theoretical grounding in governance and organizational theory. Prizes & Grants (1) Dr. Susha actively supervises PhD candidates, currently guiding Dwayne Ansah's research on data donations for social good and Olafur Thorarensen's work on algorithmic decision systems in healthcare. She leads the "Digital Innovation" course where students develop critical understanding of digital innovations' societal and economic impacts. Additionally, she co-leads the Special Interest Group on Digitalization & AI for Sustainability (DAISY), which serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research on sustainable digital transformation. Her research connects with several major projects including the DATA ALLY project and Data Purchasing project, demonstrating practical applications of her theoretical work in real-world contexts. The DAISY group she co-leads provides an important forum for advancing research on sustainable digital innovation across disciplinary boundaries.
Konrad Kollnig is an Assistant Professor at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Law, specializing in the intersection of law and technology. He leads the RegTech4AI project, which combines legal and technical methods to address challenges in the AI and digital platforms sector. His academic background includes a PhD and MSc from the University of Oxford and a BSc from RWTH Aachen, with his PhD thesis winning the prestigious Stefano Rodotà Award 2024. Research focuses on market power analysis in digital platforms, ethical AI governance, and privacy-preserving technologies. He developed the TrackerControl app (200,000+ downloads) to expose app tracking practices. His work has influenced EU, OECD, US FTC, and other regulatory bodies, and been featured in Forbes, Wired, and New Scientist. Key achievements include winning the United Nations Privacy Competition 2022 and the Best Student Privacy Paper Award 2022. He holds a five-year RegTech4AI project grant (€2.1M) funding six researchers. Talks and collaborations span institutions like Georgetown University, CNIL, and the Council of Europe. His interdisciplinary approach bridges computer science, law, and policy to address systemic risks in digital ecosystems.
