Voices for FSE

Dear colleagues,

We are excited to introduce ourselves as a team of candidates running for the Faculty Council (FC) of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) at Maastricht University. Our team consists of members from different departments, representing a variety of academic backgrounds, positions, and experience levels in representative work. Together, we aim to strengthen the Faculty Council’s role, making it a more visible and proactive voice for all staff.

Dr. ir. Martijn Boussé is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences (DACS), passionate about educational research. He coordinates the Computing Sciences Education Research Group and represents FSE in various EDLAB Sounding Boards. He teaches across four different BSc programs, trains lecturers in the UTQ program, and leads the FSE Presenting Club. Actively involved in outreach, he inspires high school students in data science and AI topics. With two years of experience on the Faculty Council, he advocates for educational quality, recognition and rewards, and outreach.

Dr. Kai Heidemann is an Assistant Professor at University College Maastricht (UCM), where he’s been working for just over 10 years. He primarily teaches courses in the domain of Sociology, and his research explores themes of education and civic engagement. He has been on the FC for two years and has a keen interest in continuing to serve on the Council for another cycle. Kai is driven by a belief in collaborative governance and a commitment to fostering a more transparent and equitable environment of decision-making within our faculty. If re-elected, his top goals will be to work alongside the other council members to promote transparency and ensure open communication and accessible information regarding key decisions. Furthermore, Kai is dedicated to promoting a supportive work environment within FSE that prioritizes well-being and actively combats problems of burnout and work overload. Finally, recognizing the importance of interdisciplinary educational activities at UM, Kai is also eager to ensure adequate representation for the recognition of non-STEM disciplines within our STEM faculty.

Rebekka Brandwijk is a second-year PhD Researcher at the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM). She highly values interdisciplinary collaboration and works with people from different disciplines and other universities. Sustainability and diversity are other topics that are important to her. As a PhD Researcher herself, she wants to make sure this large group is represented within the FC.

Dr. Jesse Hennekam is a palaeontologist at the Maastricht Science Programme (MSP) and developed the geosciences curriculum. Jesse actively collaborates with local stakeholders like the Natural History Museum Maastricht and Natuurmonumenten, and incorporates students in his palaeontological research. At the FC, he would like to advocate education through student participation in STEM research. E.g. last summer, he initiated a two-week excavation with students in the ENCI quarry. He recently joined the MSP-EPC and is the Honours Research Programme coordinator. Furthermore, as a member of the Maastricht Young Academy (MYA), he aims to work on close collaboration and cross-pollination between faculties.

Dr. Menica Dibenedetto is an assistant professor at DACS, specializing in quantum computing, machine learning, and computational neuroscience. She coordinates an interdisciplinary quantum research team and promotes research-driven education. With a background in physics, neuroscience, and business administration, she advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative computational methods. A former Sustainability Committee member, she supports transparency, creativity, and intellectual exploration in academic decision-making. In the FC, she strives to foster cross-disciplinary communication, believing it sparks curiosity and drives innovation.

Dr. Khrystyna Semen is an assistant professor at University College Venlo (UCV), specializing in the impact of nutrition on cardiovascular health. Committed to evidence-based educational methodologies, she teaches and coordinates a diverse range of life sciences courses. Additionally, she represents UCV at UCANN. As a candidate for the FC, she aims to advocate for the enhancement of educational quality, the professional development opportunities for faculty members, and the promotion of transdisciplinary collaboration.

As a team, we are committed to making the FC a more visible, representative and communicative body. We will proactively shape the agenda, improve transparency, and engage more with colleagues across all FSE locations. We advocate for international collaboration in research and education, educational and research quality, and fair recognition and rewards for all academic staff. Addressing workload concerns, including the impact of the shortened academic year, is a priority. With a mix of experience and fresh perspectives, we aim to foster a supportive, inclusive, and forward-thinking environment for all FSE staff.

Please vote for us in the upcoming faculty council elections.

Sincerely,
Martijn, Kai, Rebekka, Jesse, Menica, and Khrystyna