PhD

What’s happening on social media?

Facebook, Microsoft and Google already had the privilege to host Dong Nguyen during her internships. Now, the UT shares Dong’s services with the Meertens Institute. Dong develops methods to analyse social media content. ‘I’m interested in patterns, not in individuals.’
PhD

Unraveling urban bike myths

There may be nine million bicycles in Beijing, but Enschede also has a sufficient number of bikes to need a solid policy on how to accommodate them best. Sander Veenstra is developing an application to support the city council in their decision making.
PhD

A helping hand to patients and PhDs

Doing a PhD can be challenging, demotivating and awarding. But what’s it like at the other end of the table? Assistant Professor Arno Stienen supervises PhD candidates in robotics. He advocates hard work, structure and early publications.
PhD

Do-It-Yourself Society

Participatory society. It’s one of those new buzz words to indicate that people are increasingly responsible for their own well-being, instead of the government. However, Judith Bakker knows that the ‘do-it-yourself society’ is not as new as it is presented. Citizens have always been active in many fields, such as in neighbourhoods. ‘People do an awful lot for others.’
PhD

Andrea Sánchez: The Machine Whisperer

Andrea Sánchez listens to machines: they use vibrations to tell her about their conditions and performances. The goal is to share her knowledge with other engineers, to help them understand fundamental elements of mechanical maintenance. ‘We need more machine-doctors to predict, diagnose and cure.’
PhD

Xavier Ikejemba: ‘I started with nothing’

Within five years, Xavier Ikejemba wants to give electricity access to 100.000 African households through his own company. Within three to four years, he wants to finish his dissertation on enhancing sustainable development of Africa. Eventually, he even wants to be the president of his home country Nigeria. ‘There’s no time to waste.’
PhD

Jonathan Barreaux: I can see clearly now

Jonathan Barreaux likes to shed a light on things. As a PhD candidate he seeks to improve the use of XUV-radiations. And as the president of P-NUT, he advocates real professionalization and clarity. ‘When my presidency is over, I want to have an efficiently working board, more Dutch PhDs in the association, more information on housing possibilities and even closer ties with Twente Graduate School.’
PhD

Willy Siegel: bounces and stretches technology

For long, the idea of automation was to replace people. But what if things go wrong? It’s still humans who need to anticipate, react and be flexible like a feather for things to end well. Willy Siegel states that humanity and technology cannot be separated. Rather, they need to interact. Willy has a name for it. It’s called resilience engineering.
PhD

Vincent The: gets the ball rolling

Patients with chronic diseases see general practitioners, neurologists, physiotherapists, and the list continues. It would make sense for these experts to align their treatments to benefit the patient most. But Vincent The knows that reality can be different. His PhD focuses on information quality and decision-making in healthcare. In fact, motivating himself and others to be better is a common theme in his life.
PhD

Vic van Dijk: ‘It’s all in the membrane’

Hardcore technology versus politics and fundamental research versus implementations in industry. Vic van Dijk has it all. Welcome to the mysterious world of silica coatings, beer and improving the position of students as inhabitants of Enschede.
PhD

Csaba Daday: research like bridge and chess

Glow in the dark proteins sound artificial and futuristic. But they aren’t. Csaba Daday came all the way to Twente from Romania via Iceland to work on theoretical models that explain this natural phenomenon. So what are they? Why is it important? And also, how does it compare to chess?
PhD

Niels Baas: 'we need to talk'

The Internet is where all the bad things happen. Grooming, sexting, cyber bullying, you name it. Our children are naive creatures who need to be protected from all of this. Or is it? Niels Baas strongly disagrees. ´Parents need to learn how to talk with their children again.´
Read more articles