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Robbelien Kooistra
My work
“I’m a member of the Management Support & Strategy team at NWO-I’s support office. Our team helps institutes in making strategic policy choices. I myself do so in the area of valorisation. Many people think valorisation refers mainly to the profitability of research results. That’s certainly an important aspect, but in my view valorisation also concerns the impact of research in a broader sense. I like to describe my role as strategic policy adviser for knowledge utilisation: I am responsible for maximising the societal impact of our institutes’ fundamental research.”
“I help to explore how we can make knowledge available to others for both commercial and social purposes as a research organisation. I also offer assistance with any public-private partnerships and investigate potential funding opportunities. Besides this, I monitor developments regarding scientific policy in the Netherlands and Europe and share our institutes’ perspectives on such matters with interested parties.”
My background
“I have a PhD in molecular neuroscience myself. That means I have a good understanding of other researchers’ scientific process and their approach to things. I know the joy that new insights can bring and the frustration when something isn’t working out. When you’re strongly focused on your research, it can be hard to stay aware of the world outside it. My focus now is precisely on research’s impact within that broader context.”
The organisation
“Contact with each other at our NWO-I office is very friendly and open. It is a truly pleasant and welcoming environment. We are the centre of a decentralised organisation with ten sizeable institutes. A small, but important part of the whole.”
“When I had just started working at the NWO-I office, it took me a while to become familiar with all the various institutes. But once you have learned your way around the organisation, it’s very rewarding. You are contributing to the field of science and experiencing the fantastic, impressive work taking place at these institutes, from deep physics to highly technological, ecological and even sociological research. It’s a very special mix.”
"NWO-I is explicitly committed to ensuring that people from all kinds of backgrounds, cultures and preferences feel happy and welcome here. You needn’t be a scientist to work at NWO-I, as long as you have an interest in scientific innovation and get excited about various scientific subjects. The fact that many of your colleagues share that enthusiasm is what makes working at NWO-I so enjoyable.”