My research aims to better understand the ethics of data collection, analysis, and distribution and the implications for humans. During my PhD research, I focused on data ethical guidelines for institutions, and my current work examines the ethics of autonomous robots.
I am a research associate at the International Centre for Ethics in Science and the Humanities (IZEW) in Tübingen. I am also a PhD candidate at Duisburg University in the department of Political Science, NRW School of Governance, and part of the Graduate School Digital Society. I’m also on the ethical committee for the Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) and contributed to the latest Internet Research Ethics Guidelines paper.
For most of my career, my focus has been on the intersection of philosophy, ethics and technology. More specifically, Computer Ethics and its practical implications in our society. I’m fascinated by design's moral implications and how those choices shape our values. This has led me to pursue Data Ethics.
My interest in privacy, transparency, and responsibility matured throughout my Masters program. In addition, I had opportunities to learn about human rights, human dignity, and the morality of law and politics.
Throughout my studies, I worked at the Utrecht Data-School, starting off as an intern and eventually moving up to the position of Research Assistant under Mirko Schäfer's supervision. One of our tasks, in cooperation with the Utrecht Municipality, was to develop a framework to ethically evaluate data-driven projects. This led to the development of DEDA, a program currently in use at the Ministry for General Affairs, the Dutch Association of Municipalities, and various other municipalities and consulting firms. I wrote my thesis on big data and ethicists' role in advising local governments.
Overall, I believe that ethical guidelines should be used as creative tools to provide guidance and help people reflect on their awareness. However, they also shouldn’t overstep their role as a supporting device in the entire decision-making process. That is to say, things are complex– especially in the era of big data– and we need all available tools at our disposal to sort everything out.
I’m a curious person (sometimes chaotic) and always a lover of life and all the different ways of living within it. I’m deeply interested in exploring different paths of experience– not only in academia, but also in traveling, dressing, dancing, kayaking, hiking, and nature. I would be nothing without the love and support of so many dear people in my life (you know who you are), and my teachers Judith Simon, Mirko Schäfer, and Charles Ess, to whom I owe my deepest gratitude and respect.