I was born and raised in the Netherlands where I also completed my Bachelor of Science in Econometrics and Operations Research at the University of Groningen. Next, I studied in the United Kingdom for a Master of Advanced Study in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge. Afterwards, I came to the United States to study for my PhD at the MIT Operations Research Center.

My advisor at MIT was Professor Georgia Perakis. Together, we worked on collaborations with numerous firms in the retail, manufacturing, and online industries. The focus was to use analytics to create novel, fast, and near-optimal algorithms to solve operational challenges faced by these firms. Many of these problems dealt with improving forecasting, pricing, promotions, and advertising. To do this, we had to use a variety of analytics techniques including mathematical modeling, optimization, statistics, and machine learning. This year (2019), I have graduated and received my PhD in Operations Research with a specialization in Operations Management.

My next step is to join the Technology and Operations Area of the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. There, I will be conducting research and teaching students, which I both love to do. I am very excited for this opportunity and I am very thankful to the MIT Operations Research Center for granting me the possibility to follow this path.

Personally, my time at the Operations Research Center has been a tremendous experience. Anyone that wants to study Operations Research, or surrounding fields of study, I would advise to come to the Operations Research Center. The number of advantages that it has to offer is hard to count, but two distinct points make it a unique and wonderful place. First and foremost, I would say that the student community is amazing. Everyone is incredibly friendly, collaborative, and willing to help. You will not lack support from your fellow students, be it with your research or the classes that you take together. Secondly, I would argue in favor of the faculty’s strengths. Their mentoring and guidance lead students to the right problems, which has resulted in incredibly strong research. You will not have any difficulty finding the right advisor, both with finding the right research problems as well as your future academic career. Altogether, I believe that the Operations Research Center is the best place to spend your time as a doctoral student and prepare you for your future career.