Working on innovative solutions for the dental industry

Division: Life Sciences (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Medical Devices)

My PhD research resulted in my thesis entitled "Towards Tissue Engineering of the intervertebral disc, evaluation of facilitating technologies".I specialized myself in the field of tissue engineer and cell biology. The general aim of my thesis was to improve different techniques required for a thorough and quantitative investigation of the effects of new regenerative medicine strategies in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration, with the overall goal to better understand and supplement the (lack of) self-regenerating properties of the intervertebral disc. Therefor I conducted five different (inter)national multidisciplinary projects. It was my task to manage the projects, bring knowledge from different experts together, set up and lead different scientific studies and critically discus the outcomes and implications. Moreover I mentored and trained different students performing their intern ship. Five studies were conducted with the following specific sub-aims: To optimize the RNA isolation process of four cartilaginous structures for subsequentreal-time RT-PCR analyses  To evaluate the potential of multivariate Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopicimaging for investigation of intervertebral disc degeneration  To assess the use of luciferase mediated bioluminescence imaging for monitoringthe temporal and spatial behavior of adipose derived stem cells in the intervertebraldisc To assess the effects of an increased osmolality of the IVD pressure on thebiomechanical and cellular behavior To regenerate in vivo mildly degenerated IVDs with use of a hydrogel and bonemorphogenetic protein growth factors

I was in charge of opening and closing the restaurant and hotel and co managing the restaurant.

As a research intern I specialized myself in the field of micro- and cellbiology and stem cells. I developed a method to visualize adipose stem cells using luciferase mediated bioluminescence. This enabled us to trach cellular behaviour following injection in a intervertebral disc. The overall goal of this research is to develop a regenerative medicine therapy for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Als manager was ik verantwoordelijk voor de afdeling Enschede van het bijles bureau StudentsPlus. Onder mijn taken viel onder andere het aannemen van studenten, bezoeken aan scholen om de diensten van studentsplus onder de aandacht te brengen, promotie van StudentPlus, intake gesprekken met ouders en leerlingen en administratieve handelingen.