I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Twente, primarily teaching in the Master’s program in Communication Science, with a focus on organizational communication. I also teach courses on qualitative research methods.
My research focuses on ways of working and collaborating in organizations in the context of new technologies. I study how AI systems, robots, and digital tools are introduced and used in the workplace, how employees experience these technologies, and what effects they have on individuals, teams, and organizations. My work is primarily qualitative, aiming to provide a detailed understanding of technology use in organizations, from development to long-term adoption.
I have received several research grants, including the NWO VENI grant in 2018 for the project “A Robot as a Colleague”. In 2015, I defended my PhD at the University of Twente with the distinction Cum Laude.
Principal Investigator / Daily Supervision
- Postdoctoral Researcher Akvilė Bouwens (2024–2028)
- Postdoctoral Researcher Milou Habraken (2024–2028)
- Research Assistant Mats van Dalen (2025)
- Research Assistant Mihaela Mihalache (2023-2024)
PhD Committee Member
- Ruud Koopman (2021)
Other Roles
- Member of the Advisory Board, Robotics Centre (2025 – present)
- Member, Academic Board Tech Your Future (2025 – present)
- Member, Technology in Healthcare Transformations (2025 – present)
- Member, Joint Lab for Interactive Robotics (2024 – present)
- Editorial Board Member, Tijdschrift voor Communicatiewetenschap (2023 – present)
- Member MT Robotics – Digital Society Institute (2021–2022)
- Member Advisory Board BMS Lab (2018 – present)
- Ad-hoc reviewer for various academic journals
Organisations
Publications
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
Research profiles
Affiliated study programs
Courses academic year 2025/2026
Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.
Courses academic year 2024/2025
Smart Skills @ Scale (S@S): Toward a future-proof skilled Smart Industry (NWA-ORC Grant; PI: Stephan Corporaal, Saxion, with Maaike Endedijk, UT; awarded 8.3 million euros; 2024 - 2032)
Smart Skills@Scale connects Smart Industry communities, 450 SMEs, social partners, educational partners, and research groups in an eight-year program to realize a major breakthrough towards a sustainably employable workforce. In this unique nationwide network, we implement a scalable skills approach that encourages production workers and organizations to engage in continuous re- and upskilling, keeping pace with and contributing to the development of smart technology. We stimulate the development of human-centric production systems, smart workplaces, jobs & careers, and (regional) partnerships. With this integrated approach, we empower production employees and organizations to achieve a human-centric, resilient, and sustainable Smart Industry sector.
Finished projects
Resilience towards Robotization: The Willingness, Opportunity, and Ability of Individuals to Prepare for Automation at the Workplace
ODISSEI LISS Data Grant, PI: Giedo Jansen, UT, with Mark Levels, ROA, Maastricht University; 2021
With the rise of smart technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and algorithms, many job tasks can be automated within the next decade, and it is increasingly important that humans upgrade their skills to stay employable. While current research predominantly focusses on aggregate labour market outcomes and occupational risks of automation (i.e. assessing which jobs are most vulnerable to automation), little is known about how individuals deal with or cope with the prospect of automation at the workplace. This research aims to examine the extent to which there are differences in the extent to which people in the Netherlands (1a) are interested in reskilling or upskilling to prepare for automation; (1b) have access to relevant types of education; and (1c) have the ability to engage successfully in reskilling or upskilling. Moreover, we aim to investigate whether these differences relate to (2a) the estimated risk of automation (2b) other labour market risks, and (2c) other existing social inequalities.
Working life in the robot age
Employees’ experiences in working with robots
As robots become more and more advanced and integrated into working life, it is important to understand their impact on employees. This project is a first critical step in addressing this challenge by investigating how employees integrate robots in their work and how working with robots is linked to fundamental processes of employee motivation and well-being. It will also examine the mutual shaping of human-robot collaborations and social practices in organizations (e.g., collaboration, communication).
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University of Twente
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Netherlands
University of Twente
Ravelijn 1428
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7500 AE Enschede
Netherlands
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