How did you end up in education and research?

“I graduated in experimental physics and obtained my PhD in the Physics of Humanity – an interdisciplinary field that now falls under cognitive sciences and psychology. My research area focuses on perception, and specifically visual perception. After my PhD, I spent several years as a postdoc in Oxford, Nijmegen, and Utrecht. I actually became very enthusiastic about teaching right away. People often told me: ‘You shouldn’t focus so much on teaching, because it’s bad for your career. You should go abroad instead.’ But I found it much more important to do what energised me, so I continued to do both.

During my time in Psychology at Utrecht, I became the coordinator of a large first-year course. The shift to the Bachelor’s-Master’s structure provided opportunities for educational innovation. I noticed that, because many people found that shift challenging, I could contribute significantly by reviewing the educational structure with them. That was a turning point for me, where I developed an interest in educational management. I had the chance to become an Associate Professor via the educational route, take a course in educational leadership, and was one of the first participants in the university teaching fellow programme, which led to a professorship with a strong emphasis on education. During this trajectory, I got the opportunity to become vice-dean of education and joined the Faculty Board. Ultimately, I became the University College’s dean. My administrative experience grew there and so did my affinity for interdisciplinary work.

I consciously chose not to pursue large research grants anymore, but to collaborate in projects that interested me based on their content, like the field of educational sciences. I also contributed to strategic themes such as ‘Dynamics of Youth,’ and for several years now, I have been a member of the Education Council.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“I like to go on walks. Nothing too intense, just nice and easy. I also like to read, in particular science fiction and fantasy. I take after my parents in that regard, who also liked to read that. Both older authors like Isaac Asimov and newer ones. I’m married and have two sons, who are both adults and have finished their studies.”

What can you tell us about your research area?

“My research focuses on visual perception, initially concentrating on motion (how people perceive movement), and more recently on the perception of light and material properties. This lies at the intersection of several fields like Psychology, Vision Science, Computer Science, and Cognitive Neuroscience.

I have also conducted research on student selection, particularly for Psychology. This involves how students are chosen for a programme, for example, through lotteries or assignments. To be very honest, my conclusion is that despite all the drawbacks, we are better served with lotteries. The benefits of selection for a large field of study like Psychology are small, and the efforts required to do it properly are significant. In the long term, it is practically more convenient and cost-efficient to use lotteries.”

Which experiences prepared you for your role as dean?

“As vice-dean of education in a large faculty and as dean of the University College, I have gained substantial administrative experience. I was involved in performance reviews of professors, which provided me with significant insight into research, what they specifically do, and what is important in their work. Additionally, I have a lot of interdisciplinary experience thanks to my career in multiple faculties and fields, from Experimental Physics to Psychology. This gives me a broad perspective.

I also led courses in educational leadership, both in Utrecht and at other universities. This exchange of perspectives taught me a lot about what works and where there is room for innovation. You learn that what works in other places can also be possible at your university. Sometimes you discover an approach that might not traditionally seem logical, but can still work well. It challenges you to remain open to new ideas and to see how they can be practically applied.”

What attracted you to the position of dean at our faculty?

“I was looking for a new challenge, as I had accomplished everything I could at Utrecht University except becoming a dean of a faculty. The comprehensive universities like the UvA appealed to me, particularly due to their diversity and interdisciplinarity. Although I hesitated about returning to a science faculty – primarily because I had worked in other faculties for a long time – I realised that my background in Physics would fit well here. Moreover, my recent experience in the leadership course in Eindhoven, where I guided various science colleagues engaged in areas including technology, reignited my passion for science. I felt a strong urge to return to my roots. Technology and applied research are fields that I find incredibly fascinating. There will undoubtedly be much for me to learn in the coming period, but I am confident it will go well. I am very eager to immerse myself in this area.”

Are there any specific challenges that you want to tackle in the coming period?

“Strengthening the technology profile is a wonderful opportunity, where there is plenty of scope and clearly a significant demand in society. At the same time, there are budget cuts, which require making sharp choices. The challenge lies in getting everyone in a large organisation to become more aware of expenditures. Moreover, it is important to maintain our core values and the quality of research and education, even with less funding. For this, collaboration is essential, engaging with both staff and students. Consider improving study success to save costs, balancing expensive practical trainings with effective learning experiences, or increasing the involvement of academic staff in education. I believe it is crucial to strongly connect education and research.”

What do you want to leave us with at the end of this interview?

“I look forward to talking to everyone about what they enjoy in their job. In a previous role, I had annual conversations with staff from various departments, not only professors but also lecturers, PhD candidates, and support staff. It provided me with insight into the organisation's inner workings. I would like to make time for this here as well, and to speak in smaller groups. This, of course, also applies to students.”