In 2006 Thomas Maal started at the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery (Radboud University Nijmegen, Medical Centre) as the first technical engineer at the 3D project. A 3D Lab was set up in order to facilitate the implementation of technological innovations in 3D imaging into daily clinical practice. In 2007 the close cooperation of the 3D Lab, the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, the department of ear, nose and troat (ENT)surgery and the department of plastic surgery led to the opening of the center for facial surgery (Centrum voor aangezichtschirurgie). An important part of this center was the 3D consulting hour which he initiated together with prof. Berge and dr. Ingels. During his work he developed a passion for research and clinically related work in oral andmaxillofacial surgery. The developments in the 3D Lab led to numerous publications and he presented his scientific work on several national and international conferences. Furthermore, he participated in a cleft research project in India at the GSR Hospital in cooperation with prof. Dr.Gosla Reddy. Another research project, concerning the average dutch face, was initiated together with prof. dr. Chung How Kau in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. In 2011, together with ir. Verhamme, he started a cooperation to implement the possibilities of 3D imaging into the clinical work ow for the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery(prof. dr. Koole) of the University Medical Centre Utrecht. Later, a research cooperation concerning 3D imaging was initiated with the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery (prof. dr. Becking) of the Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam (AMC).

Graduation project at the department of Speach and Image Research (ESATPSI) of the University Hospital St Gasthuisberg in Leuven, Belgium (supervisor: prof. dr.Paul Suetens and ir. Filip Schutyser).