TNO employee stories

Annemieke Kips, TNO research manager Networks

‘What we develop is used worldwide’. Annemieke Kips is research manager Networks. She firmly believes in the relevance of her department’s expertise and is proud of a team that can compete with the world’s...

Berry Vetjens, Market Director

‘At TNO, you’re always on the cusp of something new.’ Berry Vetjens is the Market Director for the Information & Communication Technology unit. He has a good nose for what the Netherlands needs and...

Marjolein Meijerink, medior scientist Immunology

‘We predict the health risks of foods that are still being developed’. Marjolein Meijerink is medior scientist Immunology, who is clear about her mission. She wants food allergy sufferers to know what...

Ashok Sridhar, TNO Business Developer

‘Medical care for everyone, everywhere’. Ashok Sridhar has a clear mission: to bring the technology of the future to market. For example, the ‘health patch’, which is eagerly awaited by the medical world. ...

Ronald Dekker, labour economist

'What drives me is wanting to know exactly what the situation really is.' Labour economist Ronald Dekker studies labour market dynamics and social innovation. Where better to do that than at TNO, whose...

Sjors Braam, Junior Scientist Integrator

"Diversity of the work – that’s what gives me a boost". Sjors Braam is a Junior Scientist Integrator at the Networks department of TNO. He enjoys the variation in his work and the fact that hierarchy...

Shari Finner, TNO Trainee

“You learn the most by leaving your comfort zone”. When Shari Finner decided to venture beyond the world of academia, she heard about the TNO Trainee Programme. She’s now finding out which role and research...

Bastiaan Wissingh, Senior Scientist Integrator

“You get a lot of freedom at TNO”. Bastiaan Wissingh is a Senior Scientist Integrator in TNO’s Networks department. Six years ago, he was captivated by new applications in the automotive domain. Thanks...

Stefanie Bus, geohydrologist

“We need to know what’s going on below us”. Stefanie Bus is a geohydrologist. Through her research, she provides the data and insights needed to understand the behaviour of our groundwater.

Karim El Assal, Junior Scientist Innovator

“I like turning science fiction into reality”. Karim El Assal is a Junior Scientist Innovator in TNO’s Networks department. As a software developer, he feels at home in a network department as he’s working...

Joanne Donkers, junior scientist

Joanne Donkers is a junior scientist in the Metabolic Health Research expertise group. During her PhD, she missed the applicability of research, but at TNO, her every need is met.

Cássio Xavier Silva, TNO Trainee

“We’re going to do great things at TNO”. Cássio Xavier Silva joined the TNO Trainee Programme two months ago. It will help him discover the best way to contribute to a sustainable world.

Kallol Das, Medior research scientist TNO

"We know what society needs, both now and in the future". Medior research scientist Kallol Das likes to look ahead. What will the world look like in ten or fifteen years’ time, when intelligent wireless...

Sandesh Manganahalli Jayaprakash, junior scientist TNO

"Working at TNO is a big thing for me". The networks of the future must not only be fast and robust but also secure. This is the great motivator for junior scientist Sandesh Manganahalli Jayaprakash. ...

Laurie Hermans, Social scientist TNO

“The energy transition is more than a technological transition”. As a social scientist – a cultural anthropologist, to be precise – Laurie Hermans is outnumbered at TNO. Even so, she feels right at home...

Sri Ganesan, mobility consultant TNO

"I want to contribute to sustainable mobility through disruptive concepts". The mobility concepts on which he is working cannot be ground-breaking enough for Sri Ganesan. Innovations are coming, like...

Mirjam Nelisse, research scientist TNO

"Risk analysis will always be people’s work". If you want to analyse the safety risks and reliability of infrastructure, go to research scientist Mirjam Nelisse. As strange as it may sound, 100% safe...

Romée Kars, Geologist

“Let's listen to what the earth has to tell us”. Romée Kars and her fellow researchers from the Geological Survey of the Netherlands use geomodelling to map the Dutch subsurface. This is inspiring work,...

Jurrit Bergsma, business developer and PhD candidate

“The shipping industry is like a big vessel: it takes time to change course, but when we are on route, we’re unstoppable”. Jurrit Bergsma and his colleagues are looking for solutions to the challenges...

Sayeda Nowrozon Nahar, chemical engineer TNO

"Green asphalt will be there faster if we work together". The passion of chemical engineer Sayeda Nowrozon Nahar is asphalt, sustainable asphalt to be precise. Wouldn't it be great if we could soon drive...

Caroline van der Weerdt, sr. consultant consumer behaviour

"Human behaviour is where every innovation starts and ends". Caroline van der Weerdt is firmly convinced that an innovation is only successful if it has a real impact on people. Shouldn't every TNO research...

Martijn van Roermund, deputy research manager

“I'm not an idealist, I'm a realist”. Martijn van Roermund is Deputy Research Manager Wind Energy. His heart lies in offshore wind energy. He expects that someday we’ll be visiting offshore wind farms...

Ardi Dortmans, director of science

“Wouldn't it be nice if we had to explain to our grandchildren what garbage is?”. Ardi Dortmans is director of science at Circular Economy & Environment. Both inside and outside TNO he links research...

Mathieu Baas, program manager

"Our Operations is becoming a showcase for our research". TNO wants to take a big step towards even more sustainable research facilities. That is also the mission of Mathieu Baas, program manager Energy...

Bilim Atli, Research Scientist TNO

"If you want to make a difference, you have to dare to think differently". Bilim Atli is a research scientist within the Buildings, Infrastructure & Maritime unit of TNO. In these times of automation,...

Dick van Smirren, manager Networks research

"Imagine: no loneliness anymore". Technology takes away distance and brings people together – this is the credo of Dick van Smirren, manager of the Networks research department. But then that technology...

Gabriele Spini, cryptologist

“I can offer solutions”. Gabriele Spini is a cryptologist at Cyber Security & Robustness. He enjoys using cryptography to come up with solutions to problems that confront colleagues in other fields....

Nadine Wennersbusch, senior project manager TNO

"Wanting to know how the world works and then improve it". Nadine Wennersbusch is senior project manager in the Sustainable Process & Energy Systems department. With her analytical eye she likes to...

Olga Zeijpveld, Senior Project Manager

"15 Defence, Safety & Security expert groups alone!" Olga Zeijpveld is a senior project manager in the Electronic Defence department at TNO. She has been working there for less than a year, but was...

Benjamin Brenny, Optical Designer

“At TNO, you can truly immerse yourself in technology”. Benjamin Brenny is an optical designer in the Optics department. At TNO, he feels he can really focus on the essence of his profession. In the future,...

Nina Beschoor Plug, Junior Innovator TNO

“TNO’s drive to know as much as possible is very contagious”. Nina Beschoor Plug is a junior innovator in the Electronic Defence department of TNO. Through her research, she contributes to ways in which...

Jacqueline van Veldhoven, TNO Researcher

"From sea mines to semiconductors, only TNO can do that!" Jacqueline van Veldhoven is a researcher in the nano-instrumentation department at TNO. She originally came to TNO to work on combating sea mines,...

Thorsten Last, Senior System Engineer TNO

"It's a great challenge to help build a whole new ecosystem." Thorsten Last is a senior system engineer in the Quantum Technology department. At TNO, his background in academia and his experience in the...

Nora Fahrenfort, system engineer

“Done with learning after university? Certainly not at TNO!” Nora Fahrenfort is a system engineer at the Quantum Technology department of TNO. She helps make quantum technology usable for daily applications...

Robert Muller, Junior Scientist and Innovator

"TNO encourages you to step out of your comfort zone". Robert Muller is junior scientist & innovator in the Electronic Defence department of TNO. He had never thought beforehand that he would work...

Bart Jan Peet, Junior Scientist Innovator

"A new puzzle every day". Bart Jan Peet is a junior scientist innovator at Electronic Defence. That field of study really started to interest him when he came into contact with it at TNO.

Anna Tchebotareva, senior scientist TNO

“That feeling of “Eureka! We’ve got it!” is what it’s all about”. Senior scientist in the optics department Anna Tchebotareva conducts top-notch research for programmes including QuTech. A joint research...

Edwin Harmsma, Software Engineer TNO

“At TNO, you know that you are working for the greater good“. To cut a long story short, software engineer Edwin Harmsma spends his time with cows, pipelines and earthquakes. He uses his favourite software...

Federico Pettazzi, Optical systems engineer

“With our optics expertise we can clear major technological hurdles”. Federico Pettazzi’s ‘bucket list’ includes visits to the many laser communication terminals that owe their existence, in part, to...

Earl Goetheer, Principal Scientist TNO

“TNO is a wonderful organisation”. Principal scientist Earl Goetheer is energized by sustainable energy. After a two-year “excursion” into the commercial sector, homesickness brought him back to TNO.

Mathilde Miedema, Program Manager

“In developing countries, TNO can make a far bigger difference”. Mathilde Miedema is Programme Manager, Innovation for Development. One of her showpiece projects is Flying Food in Kenya. Where cricket...

Alex Sangers, Technical Innovator TNO

“When we’re on the right track, great things happen”. The true value of knowledge lies in its practical application, says Alex Sangers. Using mathematical models to solve real-world problems is absolutely...

Bob Dirks, Systems Engineer TNO

“I want to put quantum technology into space”. Bob Dirks always wanted to become an astronaut. As a systems architect in quantum-, optical and space technology at TNO, he has come surprisingly close to...

Ton van Koersel, Senior Business Developer TNO

“Our navy deserves the best possible submarine”. He may not quite collect model submarines in his spare time, but otherwise the life of senior business developer Ton van Koersel is almost entirely dominated...

Sandra Guns, Project Manager

“Our multidisciplinary approach makes the difference”. Sandra Guns is project manager at TNO Optics. With her biomedical background, she is the right person to ensure that the expertise of her department...

Giampiero Gerini, Senior scientist TNO

“The things we are researching today will be standard in about ten to fifteen years’ time”. Giampiero Gerini is Senior Scientist in the Optics department. As far as he is concerned, research is always...

Stefan Bäumer, Senior optical designer

“It starts with optics”. Optical technologies are opening up new potential within TNO, says senior optical designer Stefan Bäumer. Society makes demands, we offer solutions.