黑料福利网

In her speech at the kickoff of Research Day, Rector Magnificus Silvia Lenaerts emphasized that 黑料福利网 was born out of curiosity and the urge to ask questions. 鈥淪eventy years ago, this university did not yet exist. What did exist were people with questions鈥攊n our case, chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineers鈥攚ho looked at the world around them and wondered how it worked and how they could make it function even better.鈥� Seven decades later, that attitude remains the focus.

Interest in other perspectives

According to the rector magnificus, curiosity leads to collaboration and knowledge sharing, enabling researchers to achieve more together. This forms the basis of the One 黑料福利网 ambition, in which cross-disciplinary collaboration is essential. To tackle future challenges, openness, repeated collaboration, and a genuine interest in other perspectives are needed.

That interest also runs like a common thread through the academic career of , a member of the (BAIR). He received his honorary doctorate from Silvia Lenaerts. Borgs is a leading international researcher working at the intersection of mathematics, statistical physics, theoretical computer science, and AI for science. Borgs collaborates with 黑料福利网 professors Remco van der Hofstad and Nelly Litvak鈥攚ho were also his honorary supervisors鈥攐n a variety of topics, including fairness in algorithms and the spread of information in network.

A passion for networks

During the Academic Career Forum, Borgs explained how he brought his academic knowledge to industry鈥攁nd vice versa. He spoke about the importance of interdisciplinary work. Together with his wife, , Borgs established the Theory Group at Microsoft. 鈥淲e built a community that included not only mathematicians, but also economists, social scientists, and anthropologists.鈥� 

In his presentation, Networks: The Fabric and Signature of Human Activity,  Borgs shared his passion for networks and the mathematics behind them. He delved deeper into why we, as humans, value networks. The honorary doctorate recipient demonstrated how human interaction influences networks related to travel, the economy, and online recommendation systems.

Sharing experiences

Sharing knowledge and expanding one鈥檚 network were central themes at the Innovation Expo and the new initiative Kickstart Your EU Academic Career. The initiative was designed to help young researchers navigate the opportunities for European funding and collaboration for their research. Fellow researchers and staff from the Research Support Office shared their experiences during an interactive session.

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Winners Science Awards

Accompanied by a festive presentation by University Professor Bert Meijer, the Science Awards were presented at the conclusion of Research Day. These awards serve as a token of appreciation for researchers and the research they conduct on behalf of our university. The winners received a financial reward to further develop their research.

Young Researcher: Minha Lee

Minha Lee from the Department of Industrial Design was presented with the Young Researcher Award. The jury鈥檚 report stated: 鈥淟ee鈥檚 research is a unique combination of AI, ethics, and design. Her work not only has a strong technological foundation but also makes an important contribution to future social and ethical issues.鈥� The jury views Lee as an energetic and inspiring researcher who explores new directions with vision and creativity.

The other nominees for this award were: Maarten Houben en Pavlo Bazilinskyy (Industrial Design), Marta Gil P茅rez en Shahryar Ershad Sarabi (Built Environment) en Rianne Conijn en Albert Schrotenboer (Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences).

Groundbreaking Researcher: Federico Corradi

This year鈥檚 Groundbreaking Researcher award went to Federico Corradi of the Department of Electrical Engineering. The jury praised his ability to 鈥渨ork across different disciplines as a researcher and effectively integrate them.鈥� They particularly valued his contribution to the application of neural principles in the semiconductor sector. 鈥淐orradi combines in-depth knowledge with an eye for practical application, making his work directly relevant and impactful,鈥� according to the jury report.

The other nominees were: Yali Tang en Xiaocheng Mi (Mechanical Engineering) en Marco Fattori (Electrical Engineering).

Leadership in Excellence: Carlijn Bouten

Carlijn Bouten from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, was honored with the Leadership in Excellence Award. The jury described her as a 鈥渧ersatile researcher: a leader in her field, yet innovative and capable of thinking outside the box. Throughout her career, she has also demonstrated a keen eye for young talent and fellow researchers. Bouten possesses natural leadership qualities and plays an inspiring role within the international academic community.鈥�

The other nominees were: Erik Bakkers, Sof铆a Calero en Andrea Fiore (Applied Physics & Science Education), Kitty Nijmeijer en Emiel Hensen (Chemical Engineering & Chemistry) en Tanja Lange (Mathematics & Computer Science).

Best EngD-thesis: Elze Swinkels

 who has been connected to the Department of Biomedical Engineering was selected by all jury members as the winner of the best EngD thesis, titled 鈥淧rototype Development of an AI-Assisted Tuberculosis Screening Tool Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound.鈥� Her project focused on improving the diagnosis of tuberculosis in low- and middle-income countries, where the disease remains a leading cause of death. Elze developed affordable and accessible screening solutions by combining ultrasound, AI models, and a standardized lung scan protocol.

The jury report: 鈥淓lze possesses in-depth technical and organizational skills. She also demonstrates the leadership needed to foster successful collaboration across cultural, geographic, and professional boundaries.鈥� The prototype Swinkels developed has already attracted the interest of healthcare professionals, research organizations, and policymakers. She has already received the for her work.

The other nominees were: Georgia Skroumpelou (Built Environment), (Chemical Engineering & Chemistry), (Mechanical Engineering), (JADS), (Mathematics & Computer Science), (Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences) en (Electrical Engineering).

Best PhD Thesis: Derek van Tilborg

According to the jury, the submissions for the best PhD thesis reflect the rich variety of fascinating and impactful projects in our PhD programs. There is a direct link to, and impact on, important and current challenges in society and industry.

The thesis by of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, titled Molecular Machine Learning Beyond the Chemical K谩rm谩n Line, was selected as the winner. 鈥淒erek bridges theory and practice in a way that is still rare in this field. What makes his work exceptional is not only its scientific depth but also its impact. His research has already been cited hundreds of times and has influenced how scientists worldwide think about machine learning in chemistry,鈥� according to the jury report.

The other nominees were: Laura van Hazendonk (Chemical Engineering & Chemistry), Chris Verhoek (Electrical Engineering), Fernando Lit (Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences), (Industrial Design), Mike Pols (Applied Physics & Science Education), (Mechanical Engineering) en (Built Environment).

黑料福利网 Postdoc Association 鈥� Pitch for the Best Paper Award (BPA)

Every year, the 黑料福利网 Postdoc Association (PDA) presents the Best Paper Award. The PDA focuses on increasing the visibility of postdocs at 黑料福利网. On June 15, , a postdoc in the Department of Applied Physics & Science Education, won the award with his pitch titled When Solar Panels Get Wrinkles. During Research Day, he gave a three-minute pitch about his research into the formation of wrinkles (defects) in a new type of solar cell. Understanding the cause helps reduce these wrinkles and make solar cells more efficient and stable.