As one of the first graduates of the ATLAS program, Roos Bulthuis, who is currently a master student in Biomedical Engineering, shares her story.
“When I applied for ATLAS, I already knew that I wanted to continue with biomedical engineering. This gave me the opportunity to explore this field from the first semester onwards. I did this mostly by focusing on health technology within the semester projects, but I also dedicated some of my electives to specializing in biomedical engineering by for example taking human anatomy and physiology, and cell biology.”
Most first-year students at University College Twente do not know what they want to specialize in. Therefore, the first year provides a great opportunity to lay a strong basis in mathematics, physics and social sciences that will allow you to continue in many different engineering or social science master programs.
“Even though I knew what I wanted to specialize in, I also wanted to learn more about other subjects. I took classes in ethics, entrepreneurial leadership, programming and thermodynamics. Some of these were part of the ATLAS curriculum and I was not very excited about them at first. However, I was often surprised by how interesting they were and I value the opportunity to also explore other fields of study.”
“Currently, I am in my second year of the master biomedical engineering. I am specializing in neural and motor systems and last year I took many different classes relating to this. These include a foundation in research and design (although ATLAS already provided me with this) and classes such as biomechanics, signal analysis, machine learning, and ergonomics. I started my second year with an internship in Aalborg, Denmark, where I did a project on motion analysis in badminton. Upon my return to the University of Twente, I started with my thesis. I am now participating in a project at the ZGT hospital in Almelo where I assist in developing a sensor system to monitor patients during their rehabilitation after a hip surgery.”
“People often ask me if I would have taken a different path with the knowledge I have now. Whether a bachelor in biomedical engineering would not have been a better preparation. But I still believe ATLAS was the best way of getting where I am now. Not only because I gained many skills by working in many different research areas and cooperating with people from different disciplines, but also because I am now part of a community that will always feel like home.”
University College Twente offers a unique bachelor’s programme, Technology, Liberal, Arts and Sciences, to top students. Visit the University College Twente website for more information about the college and Technology, Liberal, Arts and Sciences website for more information about the bachelor program. Or visit us during the open day, a student-for-a-day or an insight-day.
