Best books I read in 2025
I read much less in 2025 - partially due to too much work, partially due to getting stuck on some books (for example: the audiobook "de kleine blonde dood" which is so emotionally heavy that I have to switch it…
My favorite albums of 2025
I listened less to new releases in 2025 and just leaned in to the comfort zone of albums I enjoy listening to. Nevertheless, I do have a top 10 of favorite albums of the past year: 10. Dream Theatre -…
Tips for career development for final-year PhD students
This post is part of the series PhD Talk for AcademicTransfer: posts written for the Dutch academic career network AcademicTransfer, your go-to resource for all research positions in the Netherlands. These posts are sponsored by AcademicTransfer, and tailored to those…
My highlights of 2025 by month
One of the exercises I always do at the end of the year, is to make a list of what was my main highlight of each month of the past year, as it helps me see what the best moments…
Evaluation of my 2025 goals
At the end of every year, I look back at my past year, see how I did on my goals, and then plan for the next year. Here's how I did on my goals for 2025: Work goals Writing: Submit…
Evaluation of my Fall 2025 goals
As always at the end of the semester, I am here to check how I did with my goals of the semester: Submit 4 papers: 7 - including R1s and papers of my students Submit EU proposal in November as…
How I spent my time in 2025
At the end of every year, I check my Toggl stats to see how I spent my time. My first observation from 2025 is that I worked more hours than any tracked year before (I need to keep an eye…
How I spent my time in Fall 2025
As always at the end of the semester, I check the breakdown of my time. Below, you can find the breakdown. I spent some time on conferences - one at the beginning of the semester, and we organized one here…
How I plan collaborative papers
In recent years, I’ve found myself working on more and more collaborative papers through technical committees, project teams, or simply with colleagues whose work complements mine. Collaborative writing can be both rewarding and challenging. While it brings in multiple perspectives…
Starting new roles
Since November, I’ve stepped into two new roles: I am now the Editor-in-Chief of Structural Engineering International and serve as Vice President of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE). These appointments come with great responsibility and even…