NAF-Fulbright Fellows 2008-09

AMERICAN FELLOWS STUDING IN THE NETHERLANDS

AEGON N.V. FELLOWSHIP
Dana Kaersvang earned her undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the Princeton University and her Law Degree from the University of Michigan. During her Fellowship year, Dana will study under Professor Andre Nollkaemper at the University of Amsterdam, Judge Bruno Simma at the International Court of Justice, and Ward Ferdinandusse, examining how tribunals in The Hague evaluate national courts. By studying archival materials in The Hague and interviewing practitioners, she hopes to write a paper that will inform the debate. Dana plans to continue to work in the fields of international law and international human rights, and focus research in areas that will promote the development of international approaches to resolving conflicts and achieving equity.

AON INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP
Stanley Vance, Jr. earned his undergraduate degree from Rhodes College where he studied medical sciences and is currently attending Harvard University where he is studying Medicine. During his Fellowship year at Amsterdam Gender Clinic for Adolescents and Children, he will continue his medical training by participating in patient care of youth with Gender Identity Disorder (GID) and perform clinical research on how the clinic's protocol for GID treatment affects patients' and society's perceptions of their physical appearance, with regard to masculinity and femininity. Stanley’s research will put him in a unique position as a future physician in the U.S. who knows the scope of options for treating adolescent GIS and who has an international network of physicians in the field. Following the Fellowship, Stanley plans to complete his 4th year of medical school training and apply for residency programs.

EDERSHEIM FELLOWSHIP IN WATER MANAGEMENT
Madison Condon earned her undergraduate degree Environmental Engineering/Economics from Columbia University. She plans to spend her Fellowship year at the Water Research Centre at Delft University of Technology. Her project will investigate the use of small scale water storage and reuse strategies to mitigate climate change induced flooding and drinking water scarcity in the Rhine Basin. After assessing the storage capacity and the level of reduced runoff from the implementation of technologies such as green roofs, she will model the reduced flow levels of the Rhine and the reduction in size of the floodplain in the Rhine Basin. Following her Fellowship, Madison plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Water Resource Engineering.

HEINEKEN USA FELLOWSHIP
Diana Raesner earned her undergraduate degrees in History/German from Washington University in St. Louis and her graduate degree in European History from the University of California. During her Fellowship year, Dana will study at the Onderzoekinstituut voor Geschiedenis en Cultuur at Utrecht University where she will examine the biographical and personal lives of a group of Europeans working for the Dutch East Indies company at the end of the 17th century. She will analyze documents pertaining to Engelbert Kaempfer, a physician, and his network of correspondents in order to understand how colonialism and travel abroad affected the ways in which early-modern Europeans perceived a broader world outside the physical borders of Europe. Diana plans to complete graduate studies at UCLA and finish writing her dissertation, with plans to work as a professor in higher education.

ING GROUP FELLOWSHIP
Joseph Bruss earned his undergraduate degree in Geography from George Mason University and his graduate degree in International Law/Environmental Equity at the University of Reading. During his Fellowship year, Joseph will be conducting research at the University of Amsterdam, Department of Human Geography and Planning and at the City of Amsterdam, Urban and Physical Planning Department, on gentrification and the integration of equitable development principles into brownfields redevelopment projects in Amsterdam. This project will be developed into a report, synthesizing the findings, which will then inform the EPA's Office of Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment, where Joseph will return to work after the Fellowship. Joseph will seek to publish his Fulbright research in the Journal of Environment and Planning and to gain admission into George Washington University’s Public Policy doctoral program.

DE LAGE LANDEN FELLOWSHIP
Jason Moore earned his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Old Dominion University and his graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. During his Fellowship year, Jason will study at under Arend Schwab at Delft University of Technology, developing a realistic model of a bicycle rider's actions. Single-track vehicle research at Delft began in the 80's and the group is the only one in the world doing experimental bicycle research on stability, control, and handling qualities. Jason plans to finish his Ph.D. at University of California, Davis, and in the future will possibly work for NGO’s or within academia.

PHILIPS FELLOWSHIPS
Nathaniel Bastian holds an undergraduate degree in Engineering Management with Honors from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and serves as a commissioned Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army's Medical Services Corps branch. During his Fellowship year, Nathaniel will pursue a Master of Science in Econometrics and Operations Research through the Department of Quantitative Economics in the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Maastricht University. The focus of his project is to write a Master thesis which provides a robust, strategic optimization model to tackle a problem concerning the U.S. Army’s Aeromedical Evacuation (air ambulance) system in Afghanistan. Also, Nathaniel will conduct additional research necessary for his thesis at the U.S. Army Center for Army Analysis at Fort Belvoir, VA. After graduation from Maastricht University, Nathaniel plans to become an aeromedical evacuation pilot and air ambulance platoon leader.

Kerry Costello earned her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University. During her Fellowship year, Kerry will work under Dr. Maarten Bobbert at Vrije University, expanding her interest in biomechanics, specifically the biomechanics of human movement, to include the study of human locomotion and examine how arthritis and other musculoskeletal diseases affect human movement. Kerry plans to attend graduate school for biomechanics and human movement sciences and then continue on to doctoral studies, pursuing research that combines interests in engineering and biomechanics with direct clinical applications.

RABO BANK FELLOWSHIP
Alex Djalali earned his undergraduate degree in Linguistics from Northwestern University. During his Fellowship year, Alex will conduct research at the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation at the University of Amsterdam on mathematical logic (ML) as it relates to natural language, and specifically as it relates to his explication of the linguistic phenomenon of 'bridging inferences". Alex plans to get his Ph.D. in Linguistics, with a focus on formal semantics and syntax as they relate to mathematical logic and Zermelo-Frankel set theory.

SCHIPHOL GROUP FELLOWSHIP
Hammad Hammad earned his undergraduate degree in International Policies/Arab Studies from Georgetown University. During his Fellowship year, Hammad will participate in the Conflict Studies and Human Rights program at Utrecht University, where he will study Dutch approaches to ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and how a human-rights based approach to solving conflicts affects all actors involved. Hammad plans to complete the Masters of Law and Diplomacy Degree, with a focus on post conflict reconstruction, at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Upon completion of degree, he plans to pursue a career in public policy with the ultimate goal of establishing a prudent U.S. policy for a long lasting and just peace between Palestine and Israel.

SCHERING-PLOUGH FELLOWSHIP
Parissa Jahromi earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Psychology from Wake Forest University. During her Fellowship year, Parissa will be working under Dr. Wim Meeus at Utrecht University to conduct a comparative study of adolescent volunteerism and altruistic values in the Netherlands and the United States. She is interested in how culture influences the nature, extent, and potential benefits of community service activity for adolescents, and how volunteerism affects identity development for adolescents in the Netherlands. Parissa plans to get a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology or Human Development and combine her research and clinical interests.

DRUSILLA VAN HENGEL FELLOWSHIP
Danny Noorlander earned his undergraduate degree in English from Brigham Young University and his graduate degree in U.S. History from the University of Utah. During his Fellowship year he will study religion and religious encounters in the early Dutch empire at the Stadsarchief Amsterdam (Archive of the City of Amsterdam) and the National Archief (The National Archive in The Hague). Using correspondence and other church records located mostly in Amsterdam and The Hague, he will chart activities of Dutch Reformed ministers who worked in places like West Africa, Curacao, and Brazil. He will study the role of the church within the West India Company and examine the ways that ministers interacted with slaves and indigenous people in the Atlantic world. Following his Fellowship year, Danny will begin writing his Ph.D. dissertation at Georgetown University and later hopes to make a career conducting research, writing, and especially, teaching history.

DUTCH FELLOWS STUDYING IN THE UNITED STATES

Laurence Groot Bruinderink graduated with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Twente. While at the University of Twente, he was president of the mathematics study association Abacus and interned at Deloitte in Amsterdam. During his Fellowship year, Laurence will pursue an MS in Financial Engineering at Columbia University. Upon graduation, Laurence will work as an intern with J.P. Morgan's Equity Derivative Group in London.

Pia Greiner graduated with a B.A. degree in Classical Music from Prins Claus Conservatorium in 2008. During her Fellowship year, Pia will attend the University of Michigan where she will earn her M.A. degree in Cello Performance with a specialization in the repertoire for cello and piano, cello and orchestra and solo cello. Pia’ future plans include pursuing a Ph.D. in cello performance and in chamber music, and a career as a performer in an orchestra, chamber music group or as a soloist.

Robert Huisman earned his B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from Delft University in 2000 and his M.S. in Aerospace Engineering in 2003 from Delft University. During his Fellowship year, Robert will attend Harvard Business School where he will earn a MBA. degree. During his study at Harvard, Robert will focus on entrepreneurship and private equity. Upon completing his MBA studies, Robert will have the opportunity to return to his current employer (Booz Allen Hamilton) as an Associate for at least two years.

Maarten Lijkwan graduated from Leiden University with a M.S. degree in Medicine in 2003. During his Fellowship year, he will attend Stanford University where he will be a student researcher in Medical Sciences. For thesis completion, Maarten will investigate the therapeutic mechanisms underlying stem cell therapy. After completion of research in the U.S. and General Surgery training, Maarten would like to specialize in Vascular Surgery through an extended surgical training program (CHIVO). He plans to combine his clinical work with research at an academic hospital and to provide beneficial research results that will help patients with cardiovascular disease.

Tamara Obradov graduated with a B.S. degree in International Business in 2004, a CEMS degree in General Management in 2006, and a M.S. degree in Business & Society Management in 2006, all from the Rotterdam School of Management. During her Fellowship year, Tamara will attend Harvard Business School where she will study business administration with a general management specialization and earn her M.A. Upon return to the Netherlands she will return to employment in strategic consultancy.

Paul Ousema graduated from the University of Amsterdam with a M.S. degree in Medicine in 2007. During his Fellowship year, Paul will study Biomedical Engineering at Duke University, where he will earn his Ph.D. degree in 2 years. The goal of his study is to develop a tissue engineered joint replacement from adult stem cells, derived via liposuction from subcutaneous fat, in combination with an engineered biomaterial scaffold to form a cartilage-bone composite to replace the entire surface of the hip joint. After two years of research, he will return to the Netherlands to complete his Medical Degree. After completing the M.D., Paul would like to start training to become an orthopaedic surgeon and continue participating in research concerning engineered joint resurfacing.

Annelies Raué earned her B.A. degree in Arts and Social Sciences in 2008 from the University of Maastricht. During her Fellowship year, Annelies will study International Relations at Columbia University, where she will earn her M.A. degree. Annelies will study international affairs and development cooperation, but from an economic as well as political angel. After completing her studies, Annelies will pursue a 2-year traineeship with the Dutch government, preferably in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Development, or a special Diplomats Traineeship (also with the Dutch state). Her goal is to work in one of the special programs of the UN, such as UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNHCR, OR UNDP.

Marka van Blitterswijk graduated with a B.A. degree in Medicine in 2003 and a M.S. degree in 2008, both from Utrecht University. During her Fellowship year, Marka will perform research at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Department of Neurology and Neuroscience. The aim of Marka’s research is to increase the prognosis of patients with brain tumors, focusing on the area around the tumor, and attempting to inhibit the migration of tumor cells by using viral vectors to transfer genes involved in growth and migration. After completing her research in the U.S., Marka will return to Utrecht University and continue her research project on brain tumors.

Jacob van Rijn graduated with an LLB degree in Law in 2006 and an LLM degree in Public International Law in 2008, both from Leiden University. During his Fellowship year, Jacob will attend Yale University where he will earn a M.A. degree in International Relations. Jacob’s three major areas of interest are: diplomacy, democratic rule of law, and the interaction between politics, economics and law at the international level. Other interests are international organizations, power politics and transatlantic relationships. Jacob plans to conduct research in this field and pursue a Ph.D. Would like to begin a diplomatic career with the Dutch Foreign Ministry or an international organization, such as the United Nations or European Union.

Evelien van Roemburg graduated with a B.A. degree in Law in 2007 and a M.A. degree in Public International Law in 2008, both from the University of Amsterdam During her Fellowship year, Evelien will attend Columbia University School of Law, earning her M.A. degree. Evelien’s interest is in Public International Law and in particular, Human Rights Law and the Politics of International Law. In courses such as 'Law of Global Governance and Regulation', 'Global Constitutionalism' and 'Law, Governance and Capitalism' she hopes to learn more about the borderline between international law and (national and international) politics and economics.

Els van der Helm graduated from the University of Amsterdam with a B.S. Degree in Psychology in 2005, and M.S. degrees in Psychology and Neurosciences in 2008. Els is spending her Fellowship year at the University of California, Berkeley, where she will earn her Ph.D. Els plans to specialize in the field of cognition, brain and behavior. She also has a special interest in the field of sleep, memory and emotion research. Her goal is to eventually run a research lab. Els plans to return to the Netherlands and work as a post-doc in one the main sleep labs.