'I'm part of the Analytics for a Better World group, where we use data analytics to support NGOs and non-profits. In my research, I focus on what’s officially called geospatial accessibility problems - but in simpler terms, I look at how to make sure people can physically reach the essential services they need. For instance, I’ve worked on deciding which roads to improve to make facilities accessible during natural disasters, and on finding the best spots to place water wells so that as many people as possible can use them. For these kinds of projects, we collaborate with partners like the Red Cross.

Scaling up

A lot of the credit goes to my supervisor, Dick den Hertog, who founded ABW to bring operations research into the non-profit world. I’ve been building on that vision by looking into how we can scale up these kinds of solutions. Right now, many accessibility models only work on a small scale, which often leads to networks that are connected in theory but fragmented in practice. There's a real opportunity to change that.
I’ve got a few hopes for where my research might lead. I want to help make development aid more effective and more efficient. I’d love to see operations research become a standard tool in this sector. And above all, I hope to inspire my students to explore this field - because dedicating your work to helping others is one of the most meaningful things you can do!'