New members YAT 2026

The Young Academy Twente (YAT) is delighted to welcome six new members!

Rob Bemthuis is an Assistant Professor in the Pervasive Systems group (EEMCS), where he investigates how distributed intelligence can help complex organisations recognise emerging behaviour and respond effectively to change. His research brings together multi-agent systems, the Internet of Things, process mining and enterprise information systems to turn fragmented data into coordinated action. Working in domains such as logistics and the built environment, he develops data-driven methods and digital architectures that support more adaptive, transparent and sustainable operations. He also (co-)leads several PPS research projects that connect academic research with real-world challenges in areas such as supply chains. 

Marcello Carioni is an Assistant Professor in the Mathematics of Imaging & AI (MIA) chair (EEMCS). His research interests lie at the intersection of mathematical optimization and the theoretical foundations of artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on developing rigorous mathematical methods for modern machine learning. 

Daniela Craciun is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education Policy (KiTeS section, BMS) . Before that, she was a lecturer at Bard College Berlin and a tutor and academic advisor in the OLIve Refugee Education Initiatives (Germany). During her Ph.D. at Central European University (Hungary), she was also visiting scholar in Myanmar, Brazil, and USA. Through YAT, she hopes to contribute to a more inclusive and supportive academic environment, with particular attention to the challenges faced by early-career academics. Her research on higher education policy, academic freedom, and internationalization, together with her international policy experience, will inform her contribution to YAT’s discussions and activities. 

Arlene John is an Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Signals & Systems group (EEMCS), where she develops explainable AI systems that help clinicians make faster and informed decisions. She cares deeply about academic freedom and believes that a healthy research culture, which is one that genuinely supports the diversity of its staff and students, is the foundation for good science and good education.

Anastasia Lavrenko is an Assistant Professor in the Radio Systems group (EEMCS). Her research focuses on developing RF technologies that help us better understand the world around us, from tracking flying insects to new wireless sensing applications. Outside the lab, she enjoy bringing people together through community initiatives and interdisciplinary collaborations. She is excited to join YAT and looks forward to contributing to a supportive and connected community for early-career academics. 

Maria Carla Piastra is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Neurophysiology group (S&T). She develops mathematical and computational models of normal and abnormal neuronal activity based on scalp and intracranial EEG recordings. Her work combines model development with open-source software to strengthen the link between neuroscience research and clinical practice, particularly in epilepsy and stroke. Through her Veni project, awarded in 2023, she focuses on developing computational models for deep brain stimulation in drug-resistant epilepsy.