Professor Ton van den Boogaard has been appointed portfolio holder research in faculty of Engineering Technology as of 1 July 2020. The faculty board is delighted with his appointment, which now completes the board. "Together we want to build on a future-proof faculty."
Since 2015, Ton has been professor of Nonlinear Solid Mechanics and head of the similarly named chair. As portfolio holder, he replaces Professor Bart Koopman, who was appointed dean of the faculty on 1 April.
"I am very happy with my appointment and I look forward to my new task," says Ton. "I support an organisation which is strong and flexible. No rigid rules but studying the options so that the departments and the various chairs can flourish. As portfolio holder, I see my role as representing the researchers from our faculty in the university bodies."
This summer, Ton celebrates his 25th anniversary at the UT, where he graduated in mechanical engineering at the end of the 1980s. He specialises in mechanics of forming processes and non-linear biomechanics. His chair, Nonlinear Solid Mechanics, is part of the MS3 department. Previously Ton worked as research assistant at TNO Building and Construction Research in Rijswijk.
Social relevance
Besides his academic career, Ton has wide management experience, also internationally. Over the past four years, for example, he was president of ESAFORM, the European scientific organisation in his research field, and he is board member of the Graduate School Engineering Mechanics, a consortium of research groups.
The new portfolio holder for research will work closely with the director of business relations, Dr Timo Meinders. "The social relevance of our work is increasing," says Ton. "Research at our faculty has a clear relationship with industry and with societal institutions. That link with practice is almost omnipresent."
Future vision
With the appointment of Ton van den Boogaard, the faculty is back at full strength. The board consists of five members:
- Bart Koopman, dean
- Tom Boogerd, student assessor
- Mariska Giesen, portfolio holder business operations
- Marjolein Dohmen-Janssen, portfolio holder education
- Ton van den Boogaard, portfolio holder research
Bart tells us that he is excited about the appointment of his new colleague. "Ton's arrival completes the board - a good moment for reflection. I have full confidence that this board can take the faculty's vision for education and research a step further. This is something we will be discussing with various colleagues in the next few months. We look forward to building on the future of our faculty with all involved. For now, I wish all our colleagues a great summer holiday!"
