黑料福利网

What are you working on here at 黑料福利网?

鈥淚鈥檝e been an Assistant Professor in the Dynamics and Control section for almost 6.5 years. I work on the control and estimation of cyber鈥憄hysical systems, focusing on their cybersecurity and safety. Cyber-physical systems consist of a physical component - such as the system to be controlled, sensors and actuators - and a cyber component, which includes the control algorithm and the communication medium between the physical components. Examples of cyber-physical systems range from small-scale robots and cars to medium-scale high-tech equipment and large-scale systems like critical infrastructure, including traffic networks and power grids. Due to the interconnectivity of these systems, cyber-physical systems are highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. I work on the foundational science that underlies the analysis and design of cyber-physical systems to enhance their cyber security, safety and reliability.鈥�

Can you tell more about something specific you鈥檙e researching now?

鈥淥ne of my current projects focuses on enhancing the resilience of the power grid. This large-scale system is highly interconnected and vulnerable to cyberattacks, faults, and extreme events. As of early 2025, around 8.4 million households are connected to the Dutch power grid each day. If a portion of the grid goes down due to a cyberattack, fault, or extreme event, we still want to maintain the voltage delivered to as many customers as possible. That鈥檚 why resilient monitoring and control algorithms are so important in this domain. My team designs algorithms that are resilient to cyberattacks on the grid to ensure that all users receive their electricity.鈥�

Where did you study for you bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree?

鈥淚 don鈥檛 have a master鈥檚 degree. In Australia, where I am from, I entered a PhD program in control engineering directly after completing my bachelor鈥檚 degree at the University of Melbourne. After that, I followed up with postdoctoral positions at the University of California in the US, and at Lund University and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. All of these institutions have strong research groups in systems and control, which is why I chose them. I also believe it鈥檚 valuable to experience both the American and European university systems, and I鈥檓 glad I had that opportunity.鈥�

Can you tell something about your PhD?

鈥淒uring my PhD, I worked on estimation and control algorithms for neurostimulation devices used in patients with epilepsy. These devices consist of electrodes that are implanted on the brain鈥檚 surface to monitor if a seizure is about to happen. The electrodes are connected to the device, typically implanted on the chest, that can inject an electrical current to stop the seizure. These devices require algorithms to estimate when a seizure is imminent and respond by injecting a current to prevent it from spreading. This is what control engineering allows us to accomplish: to model, analyze and design algorithms to satisfy specifications with performance guarantees.鈥�

Why did you choose to work at this university and department?

鈥淚 really wanted to become a professor, so I applied when I saw an opening here at 黑料福利网. There are many researchers working on various aspects of control engineering at this university, both theoretical and applied. That鈥檚 one of the things that appealed to me when I thought about coming to 黑料福利网. I also liked the fact that the university has very close ties to the industry in the region, especially in high tech systems. This allows me to link my theoretical developments to real-world applications, which sparked my interest even more. Currently, I鈥檓 collaborating with Philips on a medical imaging system that requires advanced control techniques to make sure the system operates without safety risks.鈥�

Why did you get into this research field and section?

鈥淐ontrol theory lets you describe any system using mathematical language and then design algorithms to control the system in the way you want it to behave. I find that endlessly fascinating. I became particularly interested in the security and safety of cyber-physical systems because it鈥檚 a very pressing and important research area. Cyber warfare is a real threat and we have to secure the critical infrastructure in the Netherlands and across Europe to ensure it remains functional and reliable, even under difficult circumstances. It feels like my duty to contribute to that effort.鈥�

How does 黑料福利网 compare to other universities you studied at?

鈥満诹细＠�网 is very vibrant in its connections to industry, which I find refreshing. It motivates you to shape your research in ways that are applicable to real-world challenges. Our students also get the benefit of working closely with local industries and that helps them to build a strong academic and professional profile during their studies. That鈥檚 a huge advantage when they graduate.鈥�

What do you think about the lab facilities at the department?

鈥淚 think our department has excellent labs with state-of-the-art equipment. Both researchers and students benefit greatly from having access to many interesting research setups right at our doorstep. I don鈥檛 use the labs myself since I focus on mathematical control theory, but my students work with the systems in the robotics and automotive labs to test the algorithms we design.鈥�

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

鈥淚 find it hard to name one thing that I鈥檓 most proud of, so I鈥檒l reframe the question to what I鈥檓 grateful for: being in an environment that encourages me to translate my theoretical research into practice. I draw a lot of inspiration from the application areas I encounter within our department, across other departments, and through our industrial partners. There are so many interesting problems to solve with our research, and I鈥檓 very pleased to contribute to that.鈥�

What are your dreams for the future?

鈥淚 want to continue working on the development of algorithms to control and estimate cyber-physical systems. My dream is to create a general framework that explains how cyber-physical systems work and to develop effective algorithms, especially for their security and safety. While I鈥檒l keep working on the theoretical side of systems and control, I also want to stay connected to industry and society. That way, my work remains grounded in reality.鈥�