I’m Stephan, an engineer, software developer, open data specialist, interested in understanding the human brain slightly more than we currently do, and in doing meaningful work along the way. My PhD research focused on develop new signal processing methods, software tools and processes to improve the quality of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging for clinical use. Now, I work as a research data and software engineer at the Psychoinformatics Group at the INM-7, Forschungszentrum Jülich. I also have a postdoc position at the SYNC developmental neuroscience lab at Erasmus University Rotterdam, and I have freelance development company operating in the realm of open source research software development and data management. I am autistic, and I’ve written about my late diagnosis here.
Background
I am a South African in The Netherlands. I have a partner and three kids who are objectively the best 4 persons in the world (no bias here). I worked two industry jobs for about 4 years after completing an M.Sc. in Mechatronic Engineering. Then I moved to the Netherlands, completed a 4-year PhD project and started with the rest of my life.
Open sciency stuff
I have found that software programming, creating useful software tools, creating educational content, and writing and speaking with others about all of this are activities that help me forget about the futility of existence. So I’m always trying to do more of that. I especially like doing that in the broad context of transparency and reproducibility in science.
I am or have been involved in several “open science” themed initiatives, including DataLad, distribits OpenMR Benelux, and the OHBM Open Science SIG.
Likes / dislikes
I like:
- Learning and reading
- Creating things (with code, with my hands, with words)
- Motivating people to organise around meaningful activities
- Underdogs
- Snowboarding
I dislike:
- Hierarchies
- Prestige
- Exclusivity
- Being told what to do
- Not having context