About me

Hello! My name is Eileen. I studied Industrial Design Engineering at the Delft University of Technology and recently joined ESCH-R as a researcher of Circular Strategies. During my studies, I developed a strong interest in design for healthcare, global health, and sustainable development, which is why I love to work on projects related to these topics.

Additionally, I have a passion for traveling and outdoor activities, such as sailing, hiking, and (kite)surfing. Motivated by a profound appreciation for our planet and its resources, I am inspired to create a positive impact and contribute to a circular economy.

What do I do?

As a researcher, I am committed to the ESC-R project full-time. Additionally, I work as a volunteer for Global Surgery Amsterdam, a non-profit organization that provides surgical training in low-resource settings. We coordinate partnerships to improve access to suitable medical equipment at the participating hospitals in Sierra Leone and Tanzania. In these areas, resources are precious, and it is interesting to see that the same circular strategies (rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle, etc.) apply here.

What do I plan to do during ESCH-R?

Within ESCH-R, I am part of WP4 ‘How we buy’, and my part of this research takes place at the procurement department of the UMC Utrecht. I collect data related to the current circular strategies of the hospital. Eventually, together with my colleague at Erasmus MC, we aim to identify key opportunities to enable circularity in the value chain. I am looking forward to immersing myself in the hospital, using my own observations alongside system data and scientific literature to find the answers we are looking for. So far, everyone I’ve met at UMC Utrecht has been very open and welcoming, which already makes this job a pleasant experience.