Dr. Guillermo Amador is an Assistant Professor in the Experimental Zoology department at Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on understanding how animals interact with complex environments through locomotion, adhesion, and fluid dynamics. He investigates biological systems like insects, plants, and marine organisms to inspire bio-engineered solutions for robotics, microfluidics, and material science. Amador received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology (USA), followed by postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (Germany) and a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowship at TU Delft (Netherlands). His expertise spans biophysics, biomaterials, and biomechanics, with a focus on self-cleaning mechanisms and bioadhesion. He collaborates with the 4TU consortium on Dutch Soft Robotics to develop bio-inspired designs. His work bridges fundamental biology with engineering applications, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to solve challenges in robotics and environmental science. Amador teaches courses including Biomimetics and Functional Zoology , integrating his research into education. His research highlights include studies on cuttlefish suction cups, stick insect adhesion, and pollen transport mechanisms in pollinators.
Lourens Waldorp is an Associate Professor at the University of Amsterdam within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences , specifically the Department of Psychological Methods . His research focuses on network theory, causal inference, and statistical modeling in psychology and neuroscience. University of Amsterdam IAS Fellow (2024) His research interests include: Network psychometrics Causal inference in psychological models High-dimensional statistical methods Dynamical systems in psychopathology Graph theory applications Signal processing for biophysical data The trends in his recent publications center on causal modeling, network analysis of psychopathology, and statistical techniques for time-series data. He has developed methods for perturbation graphs, moderated network models, and dynamic intervention frameworks. Notable scientific awards : IAS Fellowship for 6 months (2024) He advises PhD students like Kyra Evers and collaborates with researchers across disciplines, including J. Haslbeck , D. Borsboom , and O. Ryan . His work intersects with network theory and clinical psychology .
Ron H.J. Peerlings is Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) , where he leads the Mechanics of Materials research group. Promoted to Associate Professor in 2007 after joining as Assistant Professor in 2000, he has built an extensive portfolio in theoretical and computational mechanics of materials. Education: PhD (1999) – Eindhoven University of Technology, thesis: Enhanced damage modelling for fracture and fatigue Post-doctoral research (1999–2000) – University of Cambridge, Engineering Department Research interests revolve around micromechanics , micro-plasticity , multiscale modelling , homogenisation , damage and fracture , and enriched continuum theories . His work spans advanced high-strength steels, composites, paper and fibrous networks, with strong emphasis on coupling rigorous theoretical developments to industrially motivated problems. His recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a clear trajectory towards integrating advanced experimental techniques (e.g., digital image correlation, micro-mechanical testing) with high-fidelity computational frameworks such as crystal-plasticity finite-element modelling, FFT-based solvers and micromorphic homogenisation. Dominant themes include: Deformation and fracture in lath martensite and dual-phase steels Hygro-mechanics of paper and fibrous networks Pattern-transforming mechanical metamaterials Discrete-to-continuum scale bridging methods Scientific awards are not explicitly listed in the provided material; however, his prolific output (294 research items, >6500 citations) attests to significant peer recognition. Teaching & supervision: He delivers courses on Computational Mechanics – Numerical Methods for Fluids and Solids and Fracture Mechanics – Theory and Application , and has supervised >80 student works and numerous PhD candidates whose names appear on joint publications. Laboratory & teams: He heads the Group Peerlings within the Mechanics of Materials cluster, maintaining close collaboration with the Mechanics of Materials Group Geers and extensive national/international experimental and computational networks.
Karsten Lambers is Professor of Digital and Computational Archaeology at the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, where he leads research and teaching in the application of computational methods to archaeological data. His work integrates machine learning, remote sensing, text mining, and citizen science to advance archaeological prospection and heritage management. He is affiliated with the Department of Archaeological Sciences and plays key roles in research groups and university-wide initiatives such as SAILS and ARCHON. His research interests span Digital Archaeology , Machine Learning in Archaeology , Remote Sensing , Geoarchaeology , and Human-Environment Interaction . He investigates how computational tools can extract meaningful archaeological information from large datasets, including LiDAR imagery and excavation reports. His fieldwork spans Central Europe and Latin America, with a focus on prehistoric landscapes and cultural heritage. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward automated detection using deep learning (e.g., R-CNN, WODAN), named entity recognition in archaeological texts (e.g., ArcheoBERTje), and citizen science integration for data validation. His work bridges archaeology with computer science, geomatics, and environmental science, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and methodological rigor. His scientific awards include: Best Thesis Award (University of Zurich, 2005) EUROPA NOSTRA Award (2020, 2022) Membership in the German Archaeological Institute (since 2022) Lambers actively supervises students and leads major research projects such as ABMA, EXALT, and Heritage Quest. He has secured substantial research funding and collaborates widely with computer scientists, geophysicists, and palaeoecologists. His teaching includes digital methods, modeling, and simulation, often linked to ongoing research. He has also contributed to open educational resources and digital textbooks in archaeology. He leads or participates in several research labs and teams, including the Digital Archaeology Research Group (which he chairs), the Heritage Quest citizen science project, and interdisciplinary teams focusing on alpine terraces and Iraqi prospection. His work emphasizes the integration of digital tools into practical archaeological workflows, advocating for complementary human-computer strategies.
Jacky Bourgeois is an Assistant Professor of Data-Centric Design at Delft University of Technology's Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE), leading the Data-Centric Delft Design Lab. His work bridges Human-Computer Interaction, Data Science, and Participatory Design, focusing on methods like data donation to empower collaborative data exploration. He holds a computer science background, previously researching ubiquitous technologies for domestic energy practices of 'energy farmers' (solar households). Key projects include the PROMISE study on patient-led oncological care and the Data Donation initiative promoting ethical data practices. Education: Background in Computer Science; academic focus on sustainable design engineering and IoT. Teaching includes courses like 'Data-Centric Design for...' (2024) and 'Digital Product Development' (2023). Research Interests: Data as subjective inquiry material, data intimacy, data commons, and human-data interaction in home contexts. Notable contributions include PAIRcolator for collaborative data reflection and Tangi for 360° video insights. Awards include Best Paper at CHI 2025 and DIS '24 Best Paper. Grants & Collaborations: NWO-funded research on hospital sounds (2024), IoT Rapid Proto Labs for industry-academia partnerships, and ancillary role as a scientific employee at The Open University (2025–2027). Labs & Teams: Director of the Data-Centric Delft Design Lab; collaborates with the HCI Data & Design SIG. Current projects address ethical frameworks for data donation and patient-centered healthcare systems.
Javier Alonso-Mora is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Delft University of Technology, specializing in Learning & Autonomous Control. His research focuses on autonomous systems, robotics, motion planning, and transportation logistics, with applications in mobile manipulation, dynamic environments, and urban mobility. He leads key projects such as INTERACT (Intuitive Interaction for Robots among Humans) and ACT (Perceptive Acting Under Uncertainty), exploring human-robot interaction, autonomous vehicles, and healthcare robotics. Notable achievements include an ERC Starting Grant (2022) and a Veni Grant (2017). His work addresses challenges in robot navigation, control systems, and fleet optimization, with contributions to both theoretical advancements and practical implementations. Projects like TRiLOGy focus on sustainable water transportation, while HARMONY advances assistive robotics in healthcare. Alonso-Mora’s research leverages geometric fabrics for motion planning, probabilistic modeling for dynamic environments, and multi-agent coordination. He collaborates internationally and contributes to open-source frameworks for robotics. His recent publications emphasize safety-aware control, instance-aware semantic mapping, and adaptive systems for cluttered environments.
Rik Crutzen is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, specializing in health promotion and digital interventions. His research focuses on leveraging technology to improve health behaviors across diverse populations, including adolescents, older adults, and immigrant communities. He leads projects in the CAPHRI research group for Promoting Health & Personalised Care. Research trends include: Digital health innovations (e.g., helplines, apps, algorithms) Chronic disease management (post-COVID-19, dementia risk) Health equity in immigrant populations (cervical cancer, maternal care) Behavioral interventions (physical activity, sleep, STI prevention) Systematic reviews and mixed-methods studies He has supervised 22 academic works and contributed to datasets on activity patterns and sleep-activity correlations. His work spans public health policy, health education, and technology integration.
Jakob Schoeffer is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Artificial Intelligence department at the Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen (Netherlands). His work focuses on the intersection of human decision-making and artificial intelligence, particularly in high-stakes contexts where fairness, transparency, and appropriate human-AI collaboration are critical. Dr. Schoeffer's research interests center on responsible and explainable AI, with specific focus areas including: Human-AI collaboration dynamics in decision-making processes Fairness perceptions and interventions in AI systems Appropriate reliance on AI recommendations Explainable AI techniques for high-stakes domains Transparency mechanisms that improve human-AI team performance Label indeterminacy issues in medical AI applications His recent publications (2023-2025) reveal a strong trend toward applying AI research in critical domains like healthcare (particularly neurological recovery prediction), while maintaining a rigorous focus on the human aspects of AI deployment. His work spans both theoretical foundations of human-AI interaction and practical implementations, often employing mixed-methods approaches that combine technical AI development with behavioral studies. Dr. Schoeffer actively collaborates with researchers across institutions including the University of Texas at Austin and has made significant contributions to top conferences in AI ethics, fairness, and human-computer interaction. His research has been featured in multiple news outlets and policy discussions, indicating real-world impact of his work on responsible AI development. Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Schoeffer was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. He received his PhD from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany with a dissertation titled "On the Interplay of Transparency and Fairness in AI-Informed Decision-Making." He also holds a master's degree in Operations Research from Georgia Tech and industry experience as a Senior Data Scientist at IBM.
Professor Jasper van Wezel is a distinguished academic in the field of Condensed Matter Theory at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Science, where he serves as Professor in the Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITFA) within the Institute of Physics. With a career spanning over two decades, he has progressed from Assistant Professor (2014-2016) to Associate Professor (2016-2024) and currently holds the position of Professor since 2024. His academic journey began with a PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics from Leiden University in 2007, followed by prestigious fellowships at Argonne National Laboratory and Homerton College, Cambridge. PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics (cum laude), Leiden University, 2007 Master's diploma in theoretical condensed matter physics (cum laude), Leiden University, 2003 Dutch VWO Diploma (cum laude), Dalton Scholengemeenschap, Den Haag, 1997 US High School Diploma (cum laude), Sanford High School, Maine, USA, 1998 Professor van Wezel's research focuses on several interconnected areas within Condensed Matter Theory. His work explores competing instabilities in Charge Density Wave materials, including Superconductivity and Charge Order, Combined Charge and Orbital Order, and Transition-metal dichalcogenides. He has made significant contributions to Topology in Condensed Matter, particularly examining the Role of crystal symmetries and Topology in non-Hermitian systems. A major theme in his research involves investigating the Connections between Quantum and Classical behaviour, with special emphasis on Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking both in equilibrium (The role of the Thin Spectrum) and dynamically (Spontaneous loss of Unitarity). Analysis of Professor van Wezel's recent publications reveals a strong focus on quantum phenomena in condensed matter systems, with particular attention to topological aspects, symmetry breaking, and connections to fundamental physics concepts like black hole thermodynamics. His work often bridges theoretical concepts with potential experimental realizations, as evidenced by studies on electron patterns in materials like TaS2 and theoretical frameworks for understanding quantum phase transitions. Bristol Physics Teaching Award (2014) Students' Award for Outstanding Teaching (2014) Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014) Aneesur Rahman Fellowship at Argonne National Laboratory (2010-2012) Junior Research Fellowship at Homerton College, Cambridge (2007-2010) Physics 'Discovery of the year' by Leiden University Physics department (2005) 'Onderwijsprijs Natuurkunde' teaching award (2004/2005) Professor van Wezel has secured numerous research grants including an ENW-M grant (2023), an ENW-Groot project with Leiden University (2021), and a prestigious VIDI personal grant from NWO (2014). He has supervised over 50 students at various levels, including PhD candidates, MSc students, and BSc students, fostering the next generation of physicists. His leadership extends to organizing conferences, serving on PhD committees, and holding administrative roles such as chair of the educational committee for the Dutch Research School in Theoretical Physics. His research group at the University of Amsterdam's Institute for Theoretical Physics maintains active collaborations with institutions worldwide, including Leiden University, University of Cambridge, University of Bristol, and research centers in France, Germany, and Poland. The group's work combines analytical theoretical approaches with computational methods to tackle fundamental questions in quantum condensed matter physics.
Raquel Fernández is Full Professor of Computational Linguistics and Dialogue Systems at the University of Amsterdam, where she leads the Dialogue Modelling Group at the Institute for Logic, Language & Computation (ILLC). As Vice-Director for Research at ILLC and a Fellow of the ELLIS Society, she bridges computational linguistics, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence through her research on language use in multimodal and conversational contexts. PhD in Computational Linguistics from King's College London Prior research positions at University of Potsdam and Stanford University's CSLI Her work explores how cognitive constraints, social interaction, and perception shape language use, with a focus on: Visually-grounded language processing Multimodal dialogue modeling Model uncertainty and calibration Language grounding in multimodal data Language learning and semantic change Dialogue reference resolution Recent publications analyze multimodal reasoning limitations, cross-lingual knowledge consistency, and uncertainty modeling in dialogue systems. She has received multiple accolades including an ERC Consolidator Grant , NWO VENI/VIDI/Aspasia fellowships , and EMNLP/GenBench awards . Outstanding Paper Award (EMNLP 2023) Best Data Award (GenBench Workshop 2023) ELLIS Society Fellow ERC Consolidator Grant #819455 recipient NWO VENI/VIDI/Aspasia awardee As a leader in academic service, she serves on the SIGDAT Executive Committee and chairs multiple conference committees. Her lab develops models for multimodal dialogue, visual storytelling, and grounded language understanding.
Prof. dr. Steven Hoekstra is an Associate Professor of Atomic and Molecular Physics at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Science and Engineering, within the Van Swinderen Institute. His research focuses on precision measurements using cold molecules to explore fundamental physics, including Stark deceleration, laser cooling, and searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. He leads the NL-eEDM program at Nikhef, investigating the electron's electric dipole moment. Hoekstra is also involved in educational innovation, having received the Teacher of the Year award (2020) and a Senior Teacher Qualification (2023). He has supervised over 11 PhD theses and currently mentors 5 students. His work combines experimental techniques with theoretical insights, addressing questions like symmetry violations and quantum dynamics. Key projects include manipulating BaF molecules with electrostatic fields and exploring levitated nanoparticles as sensors. Hoekstra has secured major grants, including NWO VICI (2022) and VIDI (2013), and collaborates internationally on projects like the European Strategy for particle physics. Recent articles highlight advancements in molecular beam control, spin-precession methods for EDM searches, and opportunities in radioactive molecules. He actively participates in the Physics Olympiad Netherlands as chair, contributing to science outreach and education.
Yali Tang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), specializing in fluid dynamics and transport phenomena within multiphase flows and physicochemical conversions . Her work targets Iron Power technology , green steel production , and alkaline water electrolysis for hydrogen generation, combining advanced computational models with experimental validation . Education: Master's in Chemical Engineering from Sichuan University (2011) PhD in Mechanical Engineering at TU/e (2015) with Prof. Hans Kuipers Research Interests: She focuses on interphase interactions , interfacial transport mechanisms , and high-resolution simulations (down to 40 nm mesh) to predict bubble coalescence and film dynamics. Her studies on hydrogen bubble growth , dendritic iron formation , and gas distribution in electrolyzers aim to refine reactor design and industrial processes. Collaborations with industrial partners ensure practical applicability of her computational models. Recent Publications: Her 2025 work includes dimensional analysis of liquid film formation, solutal Marangoni effects in electrolysis, and X-ray validation of gas distribution models. Earlier studies (2020–2023) cover defluidization behavior of iron fines, CFD-DEM modeling of raceways, and acoustic field applications in particle dynamics. Labs & Collaborations: She leads computational efforts within the Power & Flow group under Prof. Niels Deen, contributing to the EIRES Research cluster. Her work bridges academic research with industrial innovation in fluid dynamics and energy transition technologies.
Aad van der Vaart is a Professor of Stochastics at Leiden University's Mathematical Institute. He was awarded the prestigious NWO Spinoza Prize in 2015 for groundbreaking work in mathematical statistics, particularly Bayesian methods applied to medical imaging, genetic data, and complex models. His research bridges pure mathematical theory with applied domains like neuroscience and astronomy. Research Interests : Van der Vaart focuses on infinite-dimensional Bayesian statistics, nonparametric models, and statistical genetics. His work emphasizes rigorous mathematical analysis of prior distributions and their impact on data-driven conclusions. Applications include gene network modeling and PET scan image reconstruction. Key Contributions : Authored influential books on estimation theory; pioneered modern Bayesian approaches to high-dimensional data. His Spinoza Prize funds will support interdisciplinary research and hiring new talent in statistical methods. Awards : NWO Spinoza Prize (2015), recognized as a global leader in statistical theory. Future Directions : Expanding into astronomical data analysis and medical applications, leveraging Bayesian frameworks for big datasets.
Massimo Mischi is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and chairs the Signal Processing Systems (SPS) Division , the largest division at TU/e with over 250 researchers. He founded the Biomedical Diagnostics (BM/d) Lab in 2012, which now includes 180 researchers and clinical/industrial advisors, focusing on biomedical signal processing for diagnostics and monitoring.
Prof. Hans van Lint is a Professor of Traffic Simulation and Computing at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), where he holds the Anthony van Leeuwenhoek Chair since 2013. He is affiliated with the Department of Transport & Planning within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. His research focuses on the intersection of traffic flow theory, data analytics, and traffic simulation, with applications in estimating and predicting traffic states in networks. He has supervised numerous PhD students and contributed to valorization projects translating research into practical solutions. Van Lint earned his MSc in Civil Engineering in 1997 and returned to TU Delft for his PhD, which he completed in 2004 on 'Freeway Travel Time Prediction.' He has held roles including Assistant Professor (until 2009), Associate Professor, and has served as Director of Education for the MSc Transport, Infrastructure and Logistics program from 2010–2016. His research interests include traffic simulation frameworks, data assimilation techniques, and the development of tools for traffic state estimation. He has authored influential papers on topics such as microscopic traffic modeling, congestion pattern analysis, and macroscopic fundamental diagrams. His work emphasizes bridging theoretical models with real-world applications, enhancing traffic management and infrastructure planning. Van Lint teaches courses like 'Transport & Planning' and 'Interdisciplinary Fundamentals,' reflecting his commitment to both research and education. He actively contributes to TU Delft's labs, including the Traffic Dynamics, Modelling and Control Lab, advancing interdisciplinary approaches to mobility challenges.
