After UCU: The Alumni Podcast

In this episode of After UCU, Kim Donaldson engages in a conversation with Fé Verheyen '25, a current student track representative, and Dewy van der Valk '13, a UCU alum and PhD candidate in biomedical engineering. They discuss their educational journeys, the SUMMA program, and the challenges and innovations in the field of biomedical engineering, particularly in tissue engineering for heart valves. Dewy shares insights into her research, the importance of networking, and offers advice for aspiring biomedical engineers, emphasizing the need for a blend of technical and medical knowledge.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guests

01:04 Journey from UCU to Biomedical Engineering

04:55 Current Research in Tissue Engineering

11:45 Career Aspirations

17:28 Advice for Future Biomedical Engineering Students

18:51 Challenges in Biomedical Engineering and Communication

22:22 The Importance of Networking in Science

24:40 The Value of Alumni Connections

In this conversation, Kim Donaldson interviews Bobet Kloosterman '23, about her journey into urban studies, her masters's porogramme in Belgium, involvement in various projects, and her aspirations for the future.

Bobet shares her experiences with the Cool Schools project, her Design Studio work, and her volunteer efforts at Cultureghem. The discussion highlights the importance of public spaces, the complexities of housing markets, and the value of community engagement. Bobet emphasizes the significance of listening to children's perspectives in urban planning. She also offers advice for young alums navigating their career paths.

Reach out to Bobet if you' like to continue the conversation, can be a thought partner, or have an opportunity!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bobette Kloosterman

02:01 Current Projects and Research in Urban Design

06:04 Methodologies in Urban Studies and Research

07:25 Learning and Collaborating for Design Studio

10:51 The Importance of Public Spaces

13:11 Summer School Experience and Housing Markets

18:09 Getting Involved - Cultureghem

20:04 Future Aspirations and Advice for Young Alums

In this episode of After UCU, host Kim Donaldson speaks with Marius Hordijk '05, co-founder of TheCube Archive, a platform dedicated to sustainable fashion through vintage menswear.

Marius shares his journey from studying psychology to becoming a key player in the fashion industry, emphasizing the importance of creativity, research, and interdisciplinarity.

The conversation explores the unique approach of TheCube Archive, its impact on the future of fashion, and the intersection of music and fashion in Marius's life.

He reflects on his time at UCU and the valuable lessons learned, highlighting the significance of diverse perspectives in shaping one's career.

Read article about Marius Hordijk '05 and TheCube Archive.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Marius Hordijk and TheCube Archive

05:14 The Unique Approach of TheCube Archive

09:57 Marius's Journey from Psychology to Fashion

16:37 The Impact of TheCube Archive on Sustainable Fashion

21:39 Music as a Passion and Its Connection to Fashion

33:45 Reflections on UCU and Future Aspirations

Mentioned in podcast:

It’s not every day you hear snakes described as stunning, charismatic, and sights to behold.

In this episode, we're joined by Lorenzo Seneci '18, who paints a unique picture of how a childhood interest evolved into a scientific pursuit fueled by boundless passion.

Lorenzo's fervor for herpetology, conservation, and evolutionary biology is palpable. He delves into the intricate realm of the global snakebite crisis, an issue that has garnered his attention for many reasons. Tune in as he walks us through his path, from a curious kid and dedicated UCU student, to a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

Steering his focus towards the evolution of venom—both functionally and phylogenetically—in rattlesnakes, Lorenzo sheds light on the depth of his research. Join us for this episode as we explore the enthralling journey of a passionate herpetologist making waves in the world of science.

1:36 - Gettig to know Lorenzo and UCU Experience (UCU Earth Monologues - 2016)

11:25 - The path to Herpetology

15:41 - The wrath of a venomous snake bite

21:37 - About the Global Snake Bite Crisis

27:52 - The intersection of humanities, social sciences and herpetology

38:10 - More about Lorenzo's PhD research and what's next

Connect with Lorenzo

Twitter | LinkedIn | Podcast - The Snakeman's Lair

In episode 5, Harmke Kruithof '11 shares her journey and passion for politics and foreign affairs, which took root even before her time at UCU. She discusses how her path has evolved over the years, shaped by her studies in political science, anthropology, and modern history. Harmke explores the role of multicultural environments in fueling her passion for working in politics, mostly recently working for the EU Delegation to Yemen on Peace and Security, and her openness to moving and working in new countries with different organizations.

During the episode, Harmke provides personal anecdotes and reflections on her experiences working for the EU Delegation and living in Jordan, as well as her time in Afghanistan. Join us as we delve into Harmke's journey and gain insights into various aspects of her career. Discover how her early interests and exposure to different cultures have shaped her professional trajectory, and gain a deeper understanding of her experiences in politically sensitive regions.

Episode Links:

Aden Again Instagram

Harmke Kruithof Twitter

Harmke Kruithof LinkedIn

Before attending UCU, Titus de Jong '09 trained as a semi-pro tennis player. His drive continued throughout and after UCU, helping him gain over 9 years of commercial experience within international tech companies.

A determined entrepreneur, in 2021, Titus co-founded Unveil, a platform where galleries, photographers and collectors can easily find one another and art photographers can show and sell their work in a safe, simple and transparent way by applying blockchain technology and NFTs.

In this episode Titus discusses his path to tech as an entrepreneur and sheds light on blockchain and NFTs as Unveil prepares for its launch at the end of May.

1:01 - Introduction and UCU reflection

6:14 - Journey to the tech industry

9:30 - The story behind Unveil

16:12 - Blockchain and NFTs explained

18:51 - Building a business and the life of a co-founder

25:56 - Tips on how to be a successful entrepreneur

27:13 - Challenges in the industry and what to expect

34:07 - Advice from Titus

Connect with Titus on LinkedIn

Learn more about Unveil

Join the conversation on Discord

In this episode, we have the pleasure of talking with Tim Kroezen '13. We delve into some of Tim's most memorable moments at UCU, including his participation in UCU East Africa and NerdCo and support of UCU Pizza. We also explore his fascinating journey from a science-oriented background to his current career as a successful comedian, performing on grand stages, and organisational consultant.

During and after his time at UCU, Tim pursued a diverse range of interests including medical science, energy science, comedy and consulting among other fields. Now, as a Consulting Comedian, he has found a way to merge his unique sense of humor and passion for comedy with his background in organizational consulting to bring a fresh and innovative approach to helping businesses improve. Tim's ability to navigate the intricacies of organizational structures and dynamics, combined with his talent for humor, enables him to bring a unique perspective to his consulting work.

In addition, as a coach, Tim enjoys mentoring and guiding individuals to unlock their full potential, empowering them to achieve personal and professional success.

Connect with Tim Kroezen on LinkedIn

Tim's Website and upcoming shows

2022 Winner Groninger Studenten Cabaret Festival

Marieke McCloskey '05 is a user experience (UX) researcher with a wealth of experience in the tech industry, currently serving as the Director of UX Research at LinkedIn. In this episode, she tells about her background in cognitive neuroscience, linguistics and human-computer interaction, and discusses her path which has involved having a deep understanding of user behavior. Marieke also expresses her passion for human-centered design and creating products that are intuitive, user-friendly, and enjoyable. She has worked for a number of notable organizations throughout her career, including the NFL and Nielsen Norman Group. 

At UCU, Marieke took a wide array of courses, helped found Luna, a student sorority, and considers her Liberal Arts and Sciences experience invaluable. Since attending UCU, she has become a thought leader and changemaker in the field of UX research, having trained thousands of professionals, regularly speaking at industry events and sharing her insights through podcasts and other media. 

Learn more about Marieke 

Connect with Marieke on LinkedIn 

On the debut episode of After UCU, we have a conversation with recent graduate Kristof West '22 about his time at UCU and his future plans. Kristof is a budding filmmaker and creator who resides in Amsterdam. He shares insights into his creative process, having two films showcased at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival, the influence of UCU programmes and activities, and the significance of cultivating creativity and building connections.

Follow Kristof on Instagram: @kristofwest and @toff.youth

Watch Kristof's award-winning films:

Love Natural (2022)

The ButterflyHouse Collective: The Abstract Workshop (2022)

Follow the ButterflyHouse Collective: @butterflyhousecollective