How I work at distance

For the past twelve years, I’ve been working remotely on TU Delft research projects, which means that I’ve spent most of my academic career away from the mothership. What started as an unconventional arrangement as a part-time postdoc at distance has gradually become more common. Tools for remote collaboration have improved significantly over the years (I remember meetings via Skype with my colleagues all huddled in front of a single laptop). While remote work brings its own challenges, I’ve developed a set of habits and strategies that help me stay connected and productive, even from afar.

Here are some of the key methods that support my remote work:

• Regular meetings: I schedule recurring meetings with my collaborators and students. These meetings also serve as natural deadlines for checking in with myself and making sure tasks move forward.
• Be clear about when you’ll be present in person: I try to communicate my next trip before the end of my current in-person research stay, so that everyone knows when I’ll be back. There’s something about in-person talks that online cannot replace.
• Use shared folders online: I rely on share cloud storage, both through our network drive as well as organized Teams folders that my collaborators can contribute to.
• Be clear about timezone availability: Working across time zones can quickly lead to confusion. I always include my timezone in meeting invitations and my calendar shows the timezones side by side, and I try to be flexible with early or late calls when needed.
• Communicate advances and expectations clearly: I’ve learned to over-communicate, rather than assume others know what I’m working on. This reduces uncertainty and helps manage expectations on both sides.

Even though I’m not physically present in Delft most of the time, I still feel like a member of my research group. Staying actively involved in meetings, joining online for our colloquium when I can, and celebrating group milestones (even from a distance) has made a big difference. Working remotely may require some extra effort in terms of communication and planning, but with intention and the right tools, it can be both effective and rewarding.