Prof. Daantje Derks is a Full Professor at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, specializing in Work and Organisational Psychology. His research focuses on workplace behavior, technology’s impact on work-life balance, agile team effectiveness, and job crafting. He has contributed extensively to understanding how organizational practices influence employee well-being and performance. Key research areas include: Agile teams and resource mobilization Technology-assisted work and its psychological effects Work-life boundary management Counterproductive work behaviors Recent work highlights include advancing theories on team resilience, analyzing smartphone use’s role in workplace stress, and evaluating policy guidelines for remote work. His studies often employ diary methods and meta-analyses to explore daily dynamics and long-term trends. Derks has supervised 5 academic works and collaborates internationally on organizational psychology topics. His research bridges theoretical frameworks (e.g., JD-R model) with practical applications for workplace design and policy-making.
Dr. Tom Overmans is Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs at Utrecht University School of Governance. His research in public administration focuses on behavioral budgeting, cognitive biases in public decision-making, and innovative responses to fiscal stress. Current projects examine how cognitive biases affect politicians' budget preferences and public procurement practices. His publications consistently explore behavioral dimensions of public finance, including micro-level budget behavior, consultant selection biases, and austerity implementation challenges. Methodologically, he employs experimental approaches and case studies to investigate public sector decision-making under constraints. Awards include the Veni Talent Grant for research on politicians' spending behavior and multiple teaching recognitions. As education director, he oversees curriculum development and pedagogical innovation in public administration programs. Engagement includes keynote presentations on austerity governance and membership in international research societies (IRSPM, EGPA, PMRA).
Nikhil Bansal holds the prestigious Patrick C. Fischer Professorship of Theoretical Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering. His research program has established him as a leading figure in theoretical computer science, with significant contributions to algorithm design and analysis, particularly in discrete optimization problems. Bansal's research focuses on theoretical computer science with emphasis on design and analysis of algorithms for discrete optimization problems. His work spans multiple areas including discrepancy theory, approximation algorithms, randomized algorithms, combinatorial optimization, complexity theory, machine learning theory, and probability. He has made significant contributions to understanding the limits of approximation algorithms and developing novel techniques for combinatorial optimization problems. Analysis of Bansal's recent publications reveals a strong focus on discrepancy theory, online algorithms, and combinatorial optimization. His work often bridges theoretical computer science with discrete mathematics and probability theory. A recurring theme across his publications is the development of novel algorithmic techniques for solving NP-hard problems with provable guarantees. His research has evolved from foundational work in approximation algorithms to more recent contributions in quantum computing complexity and stochastic optimization. Patrick C. Fischer Professor of Theoretical Computer Science Bansal has advised numerous PhD students including Marek Elias, Shashwat Garg, and Greg Koumoutsous, as well as mentoring several postdoctoral researchers. He has served on editorial boards for top journals including Journal of the ACM, Theory of Computing, and Stochastic Models, and has been active on program committees for major conferences such as STOC, FOCS, SODA, and ICALP, including serving as chair for ICALP 2021. Bansal has organized multiple academic workshops including the STOC 2020 Workshop on Recent Advances in Discrepancy and Applications, several SDP Days at CWI Amsterdam, and the Semester on Bridging Continuous and Discrete Optimization at UC Berkeley in Fall 2017.
Dr. Johan van Rooij is an Assistant Professor in the Algorithms and Complexity group at Utrecht University , Faculty of Science. His work focuses on algorithm design, computational complexity, and data science applications. Specializes in exact algorithms for NP-hard graph problems Active in parameterized complexity and treewidth-based techniques Contributes to applied data science through transportation optimization and railway inspection projects Research trends show consistent contributions to: Exponential time algorithms for graph problems Treewidth and branch decomposition optimization Data science applications in public mobility Scientific Recognition: 2018: Hendrik Lorentz Prize (Dutch Data Science Prizes) 2022: Finalist for Prize for OR for the Common Good
Hans Vernooij is a Lecturer in Farm Animal Health at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. He specializes in statistical methods and data science applications in veterinary epidemiology and animal health. His areas of expertise include: Statistical methods for veterinary research Applied Data Science in Life Sciences Epidemiological modeling Machine learning applications in animal health Vernooij has extensive experience in developing statistical models for animal health applications. His research focuses on applying advanced statistical techniques and data science methods to solve problems in veterinary epidemiology and farm animal health. He has particular expertise in Random Forest models, as demonstrated during his sabbatical at the Human Sciences Research Council in Pretoria where he developed a model for HIV status prediction based on demographic information and knowledge of HIV prevention from large-scale survey data. His publication record shows consistent contributions across veterinary epidemiology, with recent work emphasizing machine learning applications and big data analytics in animal health surveillance. The research demonstrates a clear trajectory from traditional statistical methods toward more advanced data science approaches. Vernooij is actively involved in teaching and mentoring: Teaches statistics to Bachelor students at the veterinary faculty Supports PhD candidates and Master students during data analysis phases of their research Provides statistics education for the Master of Epidemiology program at the Julius Centre of University Medical Centre
Arianna Bisazza is an Associate Professor in the Computational Linguistics Group at the University of Groningen, where she leads the InClow research group focused on Interpretable, Cognitively inspired, Low-resource language models. Her work bridges computational linguistics, cognitive science, and language acquisition to develop more robust and interpretable language processing algorithms that can adapt to diverse linguistic phenomena worldwide. Dr. Bisazza's research interests span statistical modeling of human languages in multilingual contexts, with particular focus on improving language model performance for "challenging" or low-resource languages. Her work explores how insights from human language acquisition can inform better language modeling techniques, and she investigates methods to make state-of-the-art NLP systems more interpretable and transparent. As a cross-disciplinary researcher, she actively seeks to enhance our understanding of human language processing and evolution through computational modeling tools. Her recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on multilingual evaluation frameworks (like TurBLiMP and MultiBLiMP), interpretability of language models, and connections between human language acquisition and neural network learning. Her work consistently addresses the challenge of making language technology more robust across diverse linguistic structures and typological features. Outstanding Paper Award at the BabyLM Challenge (CoNLL'24 Shared Task) for "BabyLM Challenge: Exploring the Effect of Variation Sets on Language Model Training Efficiency" Dr. Bisazza currently leads a Vidi project funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) on improving low-resource language modeling through child language acquisition insights. She is also part of two national consortium projects funded by NWA-ORC initiatives: InDeep (Interpreting deep learning models for language, speech & music) and LESSEN (Low Resource Chat-based Conversational Intelligence). She supervises multiple PhD students, including two China Scholarship Council (CSC)-funded researchers working on simulating human patterns of language learning and change. Her earlier research was supported by a Veni grant (2017-2021) focused on understanding and improving the encoding of linguistic structure in Neural Machine Translation models. As head of the InClow research group, Dr. Bisazza oversees a team investigating interpretable, cognitively inspired approaches to low-resource language modeling. The group's work combines insights from cognitive science and linguistics with cutting-edge NLP techniques to develop language models that better reflect human language processing capabilities, particularly in resource-constrained settings.
Dr. Alraune Zech is an Assistant Professor for Computational Environmental Hydrogeology at Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Hydrogeology group. Her research focuses on groundwater flow and transport processes in heterogeneous environments, with emphasis on practical applications in contaminated aquifers, PFAS remediation, and construction-related groundwater issues. She is affiliated with the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research and serves as convener for EGU sessions on contaminant transport. Dr. Zech's educational background includes: PhD in Computational Hydrosystems from Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena and Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (2010-2013) Prediploma Degree in Business Mathematics from University Leipzig (2011) Diploma in Mathematics with minor in Chemistry from University Leipzig (2003-2009) Her research interests span hydrogeology, groundwater modeling, and environmental remediation. She specializes in stochastic and computational modeling of subsurface processes, with focus on contaminated aquifers, PFAS removal strategies, biodegradation, bioremediation, and heat transport in the subsurface. Her work bridges theoretical approaches with practical applications in construction engineering and environmental protection. Analysis of Dr. Zech's recent publications (2021-2025) reveals strong focus on advancing hydrogeological modeling techniques, particularly in aquifer heterogeneity characterization, machine learning applications in hydrogeology, and practical remediation strategies. Her work spans fundamental research on pore-scale processes to field-scale applications, with increasing integration of artificial intelligence methods for solving complex groundwater problems. Dr. Zech leads several significant research projects: Living Lab PFAS Remediation (2024-2028): Developing strategies for PFAS contamination SilPit (2024-2028): Studying erosion of silicate grouting in construction pits MIBIREM (2022-2027): Creating innovative technological toolbox for bioremediation She actively supervises multiple PhD students including Alexandra Hockin, Kim Bartsch, Mahammad Valibeknejad, Sona Aseyednezad, Hannah Gebhardt, and Martijn van Leer. Her research is supported by funding from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, NWO, and EU Horizon programs.
Gaurav Rattan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics at the University of Twente's Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS), where he joined in May 2024. His research focuses on the mathematical foundations of machine learning on graphs and discrete structures, with particular emphasis on theoretical aspects of graph neural networks. University of Twente, Department of Applied Mathematics (May 2024-present) TU Darmstadt, Postdoctoral Researcher in Pascal Schweitzer's group RWTH Aachen, DFG Eigene Stelle Researcher in Martin Grohe's group Dr. Rattan completed his PhD at IMSc Chennai under V. Arvind and earned his B. Tech. from IIT Bombay, establishing a strong foundation in theoretical computer science and mathematics. His research spans graph theory, algorithms, and machine learning on graphs, with specific expertise in graph isomorphism, graph homomorphisms, and the theoretical underpinnings of graph neural networks. He applies mathematical techniques from logic and algebra to develop theory-driven approaches for graph learning systems, with practical applications in optimization, bioinformatics, and databases. Dr. Rattan's publication record reveals a consistent focus on the intersection of theoretical computer science and machine learning. His recent work explores Weisfeiler-Leman algorithms, symmetry breaking techniques, and parameterized complexity of graph problems, demonstrating how classical graph algorithms connect with modern graph learning methodologies. His research provides crucial theoretical foundations for understanding the capabilities and limitations of graph neural networks. Active in the academic community, Dr. Rattan regularly presents at conferences including the Netherlands Mathematical Congress, SIGAlgo, LOGAMS, and specialized workshops on graph learning. Recent presentations include "From Graph Homomorphisms Densities to Graph Learning" at the Graph Learning Workshop at NITMB Chicago and "Color Refinement: One Algorithm, Many Facets" at SIGAlgo 2024.
Tom van Woensel is a Full Professor of Freight Transport and Logistics at Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands), affiliated with the School of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences and the Department of Operations Planning Accounting & Control. He also holds roles as Academic Director of the Global Supply Chain Management program at Antwerp Management School and Director of the European Supply Chain Forum. His research focuses on freight transport, logistics systems, and operations research methodologies, with contributions to over 150 peer-reviewed publications in journals like Transportation Science and European Journal of Operational Research . Education: BSc/MSc in Applied Economic Sciences (Econometrics), University of Antwerp (Belgium) PhD: Queueing Theoretical Approaches for Traffic Flow Networks, University of Antwerp Research Interests: Optimization of transport and logistics networks using integer programming, metaheuristics, and reinforcement learning Urban freight systems, last-mile delivery, and sustainable logistics Supply chain resilience, collaboration in logistics networks, and industry-academia partnerships Applications of AI in solving stochastic transportation problems Awards and Recognition: Outstanding Professor in Supply Chain & Logistics (2021) European Journal of Operational Research Best Review Paper (2016) INFORMS Senior Member (2024) Collaborations and Projects: Leads initiatives like SYNERCIZE (zero-emission construction logistics) and Circulaire stromen (circular logistics) Editorial roles at Transportation Science , OR Spectrum , and Urban Science Active in industry partnerships through the European Supply Chain Forum (75+ multinationals) Labs/Teams: EAISI Mobility (Eindhoven AI Systems Institute) CIRRELT (Montreal, Canada) collaborating member
Philipp Tuertscher serves as Full Professor of Collaborative Innovation at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's School of Business and Economics, where he leads research within the Knowledge, Information and Innovation department and the KIN Center for Digital Innovation since 2013. His work bridges organizational theory with digital innovation practices across scientific, corporate, and community settings. Education: PhD in Management, University of St. Gallen (awarded 2009; research period 2003-2007) Tuertscher's research investigates how collaborative innovation emerges through social practices and organizational mechanisms. His fingerprint reveals dominant expertise in Open Innovation (spanning Computer Science and Social Sciences), Innovation Processes, and Digital Product Platforms, with significant contributions to understanding knowledge integration in complex systems like CERN and community-driven innovation in Wikipedia/Linux ecosystems. Recent work increasingly addresses sustainability challenges through crowdsourcing and multi-stakeholder problem-solving. His publication trajectory demonstrates consistent focus on collaborative innovation architectures, showing evolution from foundational studies of scientific collaborations (2014) to contemporary examinations of digital platform ecosystems (2021) and sustainable impact scaling (2020-2023). The work integrates management theory with practical applications in technology-intensive environments. Scientific Awards: Distinguished Winner of the Award for Responsible Research in Management (2022) JMS Best Paper Award (2020) AOM Best Paper Award (2020) SBE Education Award (2021) Professor Tuertscher actively mentors doctoral researchers including Diriker and Porter, and leads major initiatives like The Impact Lab: SBE Future of Learning Challenge. His funded projects include the €750,000 NWO Open Competition OPEN-QUAL grant (2022) focused on innovation management. He maintains strong international collaborations evidenced by co-authored work with institutions like Pennsylvania State University. As a core member of the KIN Center for Digital Innovation, he contributes to interdisciplinary teams advancing digital transformation research, with recent activities targeting data commons for biodiversity and climate impact initiatives through relational infrastructures.
Stefan Kuhlmann is a Professor and Academic Director of the Netherlands Graduate School of Science, Technology and Modern Culture (WTMC) at the University of Twente. He holds expertise in science, technology, and innovation governance studies with over 3817 citations. Previously, he held leadership roles at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems Innovation Research and was a Professor at Utrecht University. Education: He earned a PhD and Habilitation in Political Science from the University of Kassel. His career spans roles including Deputy Director at Fraunhofer ISI, Head of Department for Technology & Innovation Strategies, and President of the European Forum for Studies of Policies for Research and Innovation (Eu-SPRI). Research Interests : Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Governance Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) Science Diplomacy Innovation Policy Design Sustainability Transitions Evaluation Mechanisms in Public Research Awards : Recipient of the Emerald Citation of Excellence (2014) for impactful research contributions. Key Contributions : Co-editor of leading journals like Research Policy (2005-2020) Co-authored influential handbooks including Handbook on Science and Public Policy (2019) Pioneered frameworks for Transformative Innovation Policies and Responsible Research and Innovation Grants & Activities : Active in EU-funded projects (e.g., Res-AGorA, S4D4C) addressing Grand Challenges like climate action and science diplomacy. Organized major conferences like the Eu-SPRI Annual Conference series. Labs & Teams : Leads WTMC's initiatives in transdisciplinary education and transformation governance. Collaborates widely across Europe and emerging economies.
Johan Jeuring is Professor of Software Technology for Learning and Teaching at Utrecht University's Department of Information and Computing Sciences. His research focuses on intelligent tutoring systems, computational thinking education, and game-based learning environments. Research Interests: Prof. Jeuring's work explores computational thinking pedagogy, automated feedback systems, and educational game design. His research bridges artificial intelligence with educational psychology to develop effective learning tools. Publications: Recent publications focus on augmented reality learning environments, programming education methodologies, automated assessment systems, and AI applications in education. His work combines empirical studies of learning behaviors with technological innovations in educational tools.
Sandra Bellekom is a Lecturer-researcher at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, working within the Entrance – Center of Expertise Energy. Her work focuses on system integration in the energy transition, with particular expertise in renewable energy systems, solar power optimization, and smart grid technology. She contributes significantly to research projects related to sustainable energy solutions and environmental systems analysis. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Delft University of Technology (1993-1998) Master's degree in Energy and Environmental Sciences, cum laude, from University of Groningen (2002-2005) Basic Teaching Qualification (BKO) from University of Groningen (2010-2011) Master's degree in Electrical Engineering (ir), cum laude, from Delft University of Technology (1989-1993) Sandra Bellekom's research interests span the critical areas of energy transition and sustainable systems. Her work emphasizes practical applications of renewable energy technologies, particularly focusing on system integration challenges. She investigates how solar energy systems perform under real-world conditions, examining factors like panel contamination and cleaning effectiveness. Her research also extends to hydrogen energy systems, smart grid integration, and the economic optimization of renewable energy solutions. Through her work, she addresses key challenges in making the energy transition technically feasible and economically viable, with a strong focus on data-driven analysis and system modeling. Her recent publications (2019-2025) demonstrate a clear trend toward applied research in solar energy optimization and hydrogen systems. The research shows increasing focus on practical field studies examining how real-world factors like bird droppings, dust, and other contaminants affect solar panel performance. There's also a notable shift toward system-level analysis, particularly in hydrogen energy configuration and the integration of multiple renewable sources. Her work consistently bridges technical analysis with practical implementation considerations, making it highly relevant for industry applications. Sandra actively participates in multiple research projects including 'Effect of pollution and cleaning of solar parks,' 'Hydrogen Works,' and studies on sensible heat storage systems. Her collaborative approach is evident in her numerous co-authored publications across various energy domains. While specific mentoring relationships aren't detailed in the available information, her background includes supervising master's students during previous academic positions. Her research laboratory and team work primarily through the Entrance – Center of Expertise Energy, focusing on practical field studies and system modeling. Current projects involve monitoring solar parks across the Netherlands, developing hydrogen configuration tools, and optimizing energy storage solutions for buildings. The team employs a combination of field measurements, data analysis, and system modeling to address real-world energy challenges.
Dr. Guido Stompff is a Lecturer in Design Thinking at Inholland University of Applied Sciences, working three days a week. He leads the Design Thinking Lectorate within the Applied Research x Creativity Research Center, focusing on methodological foundations and broad educational integration of Design Thinking. His research emphasizes living labs, such as the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab addressing tourism pressures in Amsterdam. He collaborates with educational institutions, museums (e.g., Cube Design Museum), and organizations like Brightlands Innovation Factory to advance innovation processes. Stompff’s work bridges design practice and academic research, advocating for practitioner-driven methodologies. He holds a PhD from TU Delft and authored a best-selling book on Design Thinking. Key projects include the Students as Partners initiative (with Comenius Grant) and the Dutch Pop Music Sector Research Agenda. His research explores team dynamics, design inquiry in education, and systemic co-design approaches for societal challenges. Education: PhD in Innovation Processes (TU Delft) MSc Industrial Design Engineering (TU Delft) Research Interests: Design Thinking Methodology Interdisciplinary Collaboration Education Innovation Urban Social Challenges Practitioner-Academia Synergy Grants & Recognition: Comenius Grant (2023) for Students as Partners Project Author of bestseller Design Thinking; Radical Change in Small Steps (2018) Advising & Partnerships: Cube Design Museum (Kerkrade) Brightlands Innovation Factory (Limburg) Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab (Amsterdam-North) Expertisenetwerk Systemisch Co-design
Dr. Kiki de Jonge is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences of the University of Groningen , specializing in Organizational Psychology . She combines her academic role with running her company, Groeiflow Coaching & Training , where she focuses on enhancing flow experiences and creativity in personal and professional development. Her research explores how individual differences interact with work contexts to optimize performance and well-being. Her research interests include Flow and creativity in the workplace Matching individual needs with work environments Blended working practices Conflict resolution through creativity Age-related work strategies Key trends in her publications revolve around understanding how creativity, age, and organizational climates influence work outcomes, with recent studies on AI acceptance, gender dynamics in conflict resolution, and ethical implications of creative behavior. She has contributed to journals like International Journal of Conflict Management and Frontiers in Psychology . Scientific awards include nominations for the David van Lennep masterthesis price GAP-masterthesis price She teaches Academic Skills to first-year psychology students and has held roles in educational committees and as a mindfulness trainer. Her outreach activities include media commentary on productivity, brainstorming, and blended work challenges.
