I am a PhD student in the Systems, Control and Optimization
group within the Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer
Science and Artificial Intelligence. I work under the supervision
of Bart Besselink and Arjan van der Schaft on a project about the
modular design and analysis of complex interconnected systems.
I remember being interested in the physics behind many of the
games I played as a kid; I wanted to know the best way to throw a
ball and make a basket, or to take a fast turn with a car in a
video game. At the same time, I was also fascinated by the speed
and precision of the big industrial machines that I saw on shows
like “How It’s Made”. So when the field of
systems and control was introduced to me with an example of keeping
a satellite in orbit, I was immediately intrigued and wanted to
learn more. As a mathematician at heart, I was really happy that
the systems and control courses in Groningen were treated a bit
more rigorously than in other universities. This made it easier to
study more advanced topics and eventually be confident and
enthusiastic enough to pursue a PhD degree.
My PhD project is motivated by the growing complexity of modern
engineering systems, such as smart grids and intelligent
transportation systems. Such systems often comprise a large number
of interconnected components that are designed by different
specialized manufacturers. But different manufacturers seldom have
the facilities to collaborate effectively, which can cause costly
delays. This can be avoided by adopting a method for specifying
design requirements that allows components to be designed
independently. One such method is based on using so-called
contracts. In my project, I am developing a theory of contracts for
a specific class of interconnected systems, namely, systems with
components modelled by differential equations.
A large part of my day-to-day work consists of coming up with
problems that are relevant to my PhD project and solving them. I
utilize a lot of the theory that I learned in my master’s to
solve these problems. For example, I make extensive use of the
behavioural approach to systems theory, geometric control theory,
and realization theory, which were covered in the courses
Mathematical Systems Theory, Advanced Systems and Control, and
Modelling and Identification, among others. Although I do love
solving problems, the most enjoyable aspect of my work is the
stimulating discussions I have with my colleagues. It feels great
to be surrounded by people who share my interests and passion.
I am not sure what my future looks like. On the one hand, I
would like to stay in academia, pursue a postdoc and eventually
become a professor. On the other hand, I am also interested in
working in industry, in a high-tech company like ASML, or the
European Space Agency. In any case, all options sound exciting to
me, and I am looking forward to the next step in my career.
