Martijn Goorden

Martijn Goorden is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Netherlands, since October 2024. He previously served as an Assistant Professor at Aalborg University (2022-2024) and was a postdoc there starting in 2020. He also serves as a senior advisor on synthesis-based engineering within Rijkswaterstaat, part of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, since 2020.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology (2019)

Martijn Goorden's research focuses on supervisory control theory, synthesis-based engineering, and formal methods in control. He is particularly interested in applying these approaches to complex systems like infrastructural systems and lithography. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, developing methodologies that can be implemented in real-world scenarios. His research often involves the development of algorithms and tools for automated controller synthesis.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on water management systems, particularly stormwater detention ponds, where he applies formal methods and reinforcement learning to develop optimal control strategies. His work spans both theoretical advancements in supervisory control and practical implementations in infrastructure management. The research shows a progression from foundational theoretical work to specific applications in critical infrastructure.

Scientific Awards:

• Best Paper Award (2025) in Control Systems Technology

Martijn Goorden leads the open-source Eclipse project ESCET (Eclipse Supervisory Control Engineering Toolkit), which is used both in academia and industry for developing supervisory controllers in a synthesis-based approach. As project lead, he actively contributes to the development of ESCET with new algorithms and code implementations as well as reporting and solving issues. His work with Rijkswaterstaat since 2020 demonstrates strong industry-government collaboration.

He is affiliated with the Control Systems Technology group at TU/e, specifically within Group Reniers, focusing on applying formal methods to real-world control problems. His work bridges the gap between theoretical computer science and practical engineering applications, particularly in infrastructure systems.