Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
== English before Dutch == I am fascinated by fundamental research because it tries to satisfy the ultimate curiosity of how nature and all its constituents work. My work as a PhD researcher was set in the research and development of particle detectors for dark matter searches. In this way I contributed to answering questions about cosmology and the history of the universe. With my enthusiasm and my research background, I would like to inspire future generations to contribute to technological and scientific progress. For this, knowledge, innovation and creativity have to go hand in hand with understanding and responsibility. == Nederlands == Ik ben gefascineerd door fundamenteel onderzoek omdat het streeft naar de bevrediging van de ultieme nieuwsgierigheid naar de werkwijze van de natuur en al haar onderdelen. Mijn promotieonderzoek vond plaats in het kader van onderzoek en ontwikkeling van deeltjesdetectoren. Op die manier heb ik een bijdrage geleverd aan het beantwoorden van de vraag naar de geschiedenis van het heelal. Met mijn enthousiasme en mijn achtergrond in het onderzoek wil ik graag toekomstige generaties inspireren om aan technologische en wetenschappelijke vooruitgang bij te dragen. Hiervoor moeten kennis, innovatie en creativiteit samen gaan met begrip en verantwoordelijkheid.
I'm teaching physics in 4th grade (15/16 years old) on a part-time basis.
I supervised pupils of 12-18 years old from all school levels who do their homework in a relaxed and productive environment. My core duties were helping with homework in physics, maths and chemistry, but I also covered languages like German, French, English and Spanish. Next to the homework supervision I gave private lessons in those subjects.
I'm developing next generation particle detectors for fundamental research in subatomic physics. More specifically I try to improve micro-pattern gaseous detectors for the application in dark matter search experiments. I am working in the laboratory with my own experimental set-up to characterise GridPix chips and I analyse the data of these measurements. We also studied the detector performance at CERN, in beam tests and in a dual-phase argon cryostat. With the Nikhef Dark Matter group, we have built the first dual-phase xenon time projection chamber of the Netherlands. This set-up allows the group to continue R&D on the detection properties of xenon and this understanding helps improving the interpretation of large-scale experiments like XENON1T.
I'm performing my PhD research at Nikhef as a fellow of the Marie Curie network for particle detectors (MC-PAD).
My main task was to coordinate the teaching evaluation at the physics faculty (twice per year). I was also sending invitations for the faculty's outreach events.