Eline van der Kruk joins The Young Academy
Assistant Professor at TU Delft, Eline van der Kruk, has been appointed as one of the ten new members of The Young Academy. This platform, consisting of 50 talented scientists, is part of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and focuses on building a sustainable science system. Over the next five years, Van der Kruk will dedicate herself to science policy and science communication.
"I don’t fit the image of the current technical scientist." This is how Van der Kruk started her motivation letter for The Young Academy. She elaborates: "I have the best job in the world, but the stereotype of technical professors is still that of a rational, older man in a dusty suit. Although there is increasing attention for diversity in science, prejudices and stereotypes remain a challenge. The lack of diversity also impacts the focus of scientific research—specifically, which issues and groups we choose to study.”
Van der Kruk emphasizes that diverse representation is therefore essential: "Representation plays a crucial role—from choosing a study programme to recruiting new academic talent and fostering a sense of belonging once someone is part of the system." Within The Young Academy, she looks forward to collaborating with other creative and passionate scientists to tackle representation challenges in an interdisciplinary way. "I especially want to focus on attracting and training the next generation of academics, which is why I will concentrate on science communication and policy."
Kruk, van der dr. ir. E. (Eline)
Biomechatronics & Human Machine Control
T
Research on Human Movement
Van der Kruk conducts research within the Department of Biomechanical Engineering at TU Delft. Her work explores the boundaries of human movement: How do we control our muscles to optimise performance in elite sports, and why do movement issues arise with aging? She develops advanced computer models of the neuromusculoskeletal system to simulate and optimise movements, with applications in both elite sports and rehabilitation.
Her current research places a special emphasis on biomechanical sex and gender differences and how these are often overlooked in biomechanical studies. She refers to this phenomenon as ‘biasmechanics.’ Additionally, she is developing innovative measurement systems and feedback tools to support athletes and patients in learning optimised movements.