Optimization
To design and implement algorithms that compute the best possible solution to real-world problems.
Pursuing this passion in academia, industry, and spare time I’ve acquired a diverse set of skills and interests that I continue to hone and expand with an insatiable hunger for knowledge.
Skills and interests
- Algorithms and data structures
Design, analysis, implementation.
- Writing and presenting
See my blog and publications.
- Programming paradigms
Imperative, functional, object-oriented, concurrent, distributed.
- Computer languages
I greatly enjoy learning new ones.
Proficient with: C++, Python, LaTeX, HTML/CSS/JavaScript.
Have also used: Assembly, Bash, C, C#, Common Lisp, Erlang, Forth, Haskell, Java, Mathematica, PHP, Pascal, Perl, Prolog, R, Ruby, Scheme, SQL. - Natural languages
Dutch (native), English (fluent), German (reading/listening).
- Visualization
Making data and processes insightful and explorable.
- Video games
Playing them, studying their design and implementation.
- Mathematics
Geometry, discrete math, statistics.
- Physics
Classical and orbital mechanics.
- Psychology and neuroscience
How best to use my brain and entice those of others.
- Running
Exercise is the ultimate brain enhancer.
Work experience
2013 – 2014: Post-doc
University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands- Research and development of a web-based tool for visual analytics in the digital humanities.
2008 – 2013: PhD student
Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands- Performed practical experiments and theoretical research into robot push planning and dynamic map labeling, resulting in publications in various international journals and conferences.
- Graded homework and taught tutorials (mini-lectures) in Bachelor courses on algorithms and data structures, with excellent student reviews.
- Developed and maintained website for the Algorithms research group.
- Developed and maintained website for the 19th International Symposium on Graph Drawing. Also helped with various tasks during the conference to ensure everything went smoothly.
- Project work for Assembléon Netherlands B.V.
(Part of “Kenniswerkersregeling” project KWR09598 “SUPREME”.)
For a part of their existing optimization software:- Made recommendations that would reduce computation time from hours to seconds for the existing line of pick & place machines.
- Developed prototype for this part of the software for a new line of machines.
- Used simulations with prototype to recommend a design for the new line of machines; 20–60% projected gain in production speed compared to existing machines.
Summer 2005: Intern
Franz Inc., Oakland CA, United States of America- Developed a tool to easily access C++ libraries Franz Inc.’s AllegroCL, which thereby became the first Common Lisp implementation with such a feature.
2004 – 2008: Student assistant
Euflex Employment Services, Eindhoven, the Netherlands- Tutor students and grade their assignments for various courses in algorithms, data structures, and imperative, functional, and logic programming being taught at the Eindhoven University of Technology.
Education
2008 – 2013: PhD, Computer Science
Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
Thesis: Pushing and Pulling
Courses:- Planning & Communication
- Scientific Integrity
- Supervising Master Students
- Teaching & Learning in Higher Education
- Writing Articles & Abstracts
- The Art of Presenting Science
- Algorithms for Data Analysis & Visualization
- Multi-Core Computing
- Bioinformatics
- Algorithms and Complexity
2005 – 2008: MSc, Computer Science and Engineering
Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
Thesis: Designing Push Plans for Disk-Shaped Robots
Graduated cum laude2002 – 2005: BSc, Technische Informatica
Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands
Graduated cum laude1996 – 2002: VWO (Atheneum), Natuur & Techniek
Rythovius College, Eersel, the Netherlands