“We do lots of brain storming, write some code or set up some math. We get regular advice from the project supervisor. Sometimes the advice is very helpful. Other times it is not helpful. I think this requires more autonomy on the student side. Towards the end we will have developed a working prototype of an algorithm or an app that we can demonstrate.”

Which courses are most interesting?

I really liked the mathematics courses a lot. This includes signal and image processing, computational statistics and symbolic computing. I like the balance of theory and praxis. The teachers are very knowledgeable and like to answer all my questions.

How is the contact between you, your lecturers and fellow students?

I stand in very good contact with my lecturers and fellow students. I think this is due to the flat hierarchical organisation of the Dutch culture. People here are very down to earth. It is quite normal to joke around with peers, go out for bike trips or city trips, do sports or have dinner together. We study, work and life together. I would describe my social environment as very friendly. However, I also see that some students are lonely. I recommend just talking to them and including them. We are all in this together.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

Working on brain computer interfaces. I have a background in psychology and neuroscience and I would like to combine it with my artificial intelligence and data science degrees. It would be inspiring to help disabled people restore some of their normal life with the help of computers. In particular, people who cannot control their limbs anymore due to paralysis can benefit from brain computer interfaces that read people’s mind directly. Whenever I think about it, I feel like it comes from a science fiction movie. Yet, there are many people working on this technology already and I feel well prepared to contribute.