AI Labs (Utrecht University)

In 2025, two new researchers began their doctoral research within the Utrecht AI Labs. Evelien van der Laan, a data researcher with the police, has joined the Dutch Policelab AI (NPAI). Bob Kersten, a policy advisor at the Ministry of Social Affairs, is conducting his research at the AI Lab for Public Services. Van der Laan has been working with the Dutch Police since March last year. At the NPAI, she will be researching biases in the datasets used to train the police’s AI models, and the implications this has for the reliability of those models. “For the police, it is essential that AI is used responsibly”, Van der Laan stated. Kersten is a legal philosopher who began working at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in early 2024, focusing on enforcement and prevention within social security. His research with the AI Lab for Public Services will examine how AI systems can be utilised to manage social security systems, making them simpler and more accessible. This will include analysing how AI can contribute to social justice and proactive service delivery. AI Labs (Utrecht University) #uuscience #research #AI #police #Ministry

Thomas Schoegje was interviewed by iBestuur about his PhD research with the AI Lab for Public Services. As part of this research, Thomas developed an advanced search engine designed to help Gemeente Utrecht stakeholders find the right information more effectively and efficiently. 🏙️💡 This innovation marks an important step forward in using #AI to improve public services and meet diverse stakeholder needs. Check out the interview for more insights into his work (in Dutch)! 👇

Register for our next ASReview Users Meeting: Thursday, Jan. 30 – 13.00-16.00 (Utrecht University)!! Confirmed speakers: Timo Verlaat (CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis) – Using ASReview to scan business register data   @Vincent Put (Hasselt University) – An application of the ASReview workflow on a systematic review of nursing leadership Marina Meester (UU – Veterinary Medicine) – ASReview experience when searching for risk factors for multiple pathogens in pig farms Marieke Schor (Maastricht University) – To Include or Not to Include? A prescription from the pharmacy on how to use ASReview in systematic reviews Josien Boetje, Tale Evenhuis and Lauke Stoel discuss experiences working with the SAFE-procedure We will end the meeting with the Flash Findings Session from our very own ASReview Team, which is back for 2025 by popular demand! Stop by the screens and chat with our presenters during this interactive session. Berke Yazan Towards a Smarter, Faster, and Happier Dashboard for ASReview Emily Westerbeek SYNERGY: Open machine learning dataset on study selection in systematic reviews Timo van der Kuil Hyperparameter Optimization for ASReview 2.0 Jelle Teijema Makita 1.0: For When You’d Rather Be Simulating than Debugging Laurens de Bruin Wordcloud Algorithms for ASReview Register today! https://lnkd.in/eHeReFpG AI Labs (Utrecht University) EWUU alliance (TU/e, WUR, UU, UMC Utrecht)

✨ We are hiring! ✨ At Utrecht AI Labs, we bring together researchers, organisations, and governments to tackle big societal challenges using AI and data science. ➡️ We’re now looking for a Coordinator External Relations to join our team. This role is about connecting people – between research, education, and practice. You’ll help us build relationships, find new partners, develop project proposals, and make sure the Labs continue to thrive. If you’re fluent in Dutch, love working with diverse people, and are passionate about the possibilities of AI, we’d love to hear from you! Apply here before January 20th: https://lnkd.in/etepQXJS

🚀 Last week at the Utrecht AI Event: We had the pleasure of hosting a thought-provoking workshop that opened the door to a critical conversation, addressing two pivotal questions: Why is open-source essential for building trust in AI-aided systems? and How can universities and industry partners co-create trusted AI tools? 🎙️ The event featured a dynamic 45-minute panel discussion moderated by Rens (ASReview’s founder) and Mélanie (branding and concept development expert). It brought together six brilliant minds, each offering unique perspectives: 👉 Jonathan de Bruin – FAIR Data and Software expert, Universiteit Utrecht Open Science Office 👉 Rob Beffers – IT specialist and ASReview’s community lead at Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu 👉 Tim Christen – Advisor and ASReview user, Federatie Medisch Specialisten 👉 Hans Peeters – Philips collaborator on the EU’s IHI IMPROVE project 👉 Bob Schijvenaars – Senior VP Technology at Digital Science, exploring ASReview integration 👉 Peter Lombaers – Machine learning expert at GlobalCampus and ASReview maintainer The discussion was nothing short of inspiring, weaving together rich insights on trust, collaboration, and innovation in AI. 🙏 A heartfelt thank you to our speakers for sharing your expertise and sparking ideas that will undoubtedly shape the future of AI research and development. We left with fresh perspectives—and plenty to build on together.

This afternoon at the Utrecht AI Event, researchers from various AI Labs at Utrecht University presented the exciting projects they're currently working on and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in AI research. A big thank you to Antal van den Bosch, Bruce Mutsvairo, Cyril Snijders, and José van Dijck for sharing your insights on how AI affects journalism, the role of media and tech platforms and the impact of AI in both local and global contexts! Iris Beerepoot and Guido Ongena guided visitors through the latest developments and opportunities in AI for the public sector. In a lively and thought-provoking panel discussion, Jasper Van Vliet of the AI4Oversight Lab, Erik Saaman (Nationaal Archief), Hajo Reijers of the AI Lab for Public Services, and Floris Bex of the National Police AI Lab discussed the potential of AI as a tool for streamlining work processes in government organisations — and the hurdles they encounter in using and researching it!! A huge shoutout to Mona F. Giersberg and her team for hosting a panel on how AI is tackling challenges in animal welfare, including a fascinating live demonstration on improving the welfare of laying hens (we hope you figured out if you're more of a hare or a turtle? 😉). And there was more! The AI & Finance session by Ioana Karnstedt-Hulpus was another highlight, as was Rens van de Schoot and his team from ASReview (check out their awesome merchandise!). Plus, we had a breakout session by the AI & Mobility Lab, with experts from Nederlandse Spoorwegen, Qbuzz b.v., and of course Christian Janssen. Clearly, there are many opportunities in our Labs. If you'd like to learn more about what the AI Labs can do for your organisation, feel free to get in touch! #ai #artificialintelligency #kunstmatigeintelligentie #digitalisering #UtrechtAIEvent2024 @dataschool-uu | UMC Utrecht | U-TECH community | ROM Utrecht Region | Topsector ICT | AI Hub Midden Nederland | EDIH Digital Hub Noordwest |

We’re off to a great start! 💥 Beyond Technology: Utrecht AI Event Together with ROM Utrecht Region, UMC Utrecht, I-Partnerschap, and U-TECH community, we’re hosting today’s Utrecht AI event: ‘Beyond Technology’. At TivoliVredenburg, we’ve brought together experts from business, government, research, and education. Following an introduction by Carien Duisterwinkel, we kicked off with a panel discussion featuring Jacqueline Rutjens (Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties), Carl Moons (UMC Utrecht), Marjolijn Zwetsloot (U-TECH community), and Marco Li Mandri (ING). They discussed the impact of AI in the workplace and how AI can be responsibly deployed across different organisations. 💬Key ingredients for the successful implementation of AI in healthcare organisations and beyond include working in co-creation and ensuring that AI addresses not only today’s needs but also those of tomorrow, said Carl Moons. Importantly, it should serve not just professionals but also patients and citizens. Jacqueline Rutjens emphasised the necessity of political stability and sustained investments to make this possible. She advocated for the creation of an AI fund to support initiatives, particularly those driven by young people. Micha Bruinvels, Director of Nationaal Monument Kamp Amersfoort, shared an inspiring example of how AI can be used to bring history to life. The museum is developing an AI-powered avatar, built from thousands of interviews with former inmates, to offer visitors an immersive and deeply personal experience. And now, onwards to the sessions! For the rest of the day, attendees can join a wide range of workshops and sessions on topics such as AI & Government, AI & Health, AI in Practice, and AI & Work. #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #UtrechtAIEvent2024 Universiteit Utrecht The Utrecht AI Event: Beyond Technology is made possible by AI Hub Midden Nederland, Topsector ICT, and EDIH Digital Hub Noordwest. Photo by Jelmer de Haas Fotografie

More than happy to share that I have been promoted to Associate Professor @ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Utrecht University)! 💃 🎉 I am convinced that to advance our understanding of animal perspectives and human animal relationships we need to move beyond discipline specific assumptions and concepts. In my new role, I will continue working towards this as coordinator of the AI & Animal Welfare Lab @ AI Labs (Utrecht University) and as part of the Centre for Sustainable Animal Stewardship (CenSAS). It is my ambition to strategically expand the powerful instrument of transdisciplinary collaboration to continue adding to the veterinary and animal research of the future. And now some photo context: Left: me, enjoying my final student days, just before my first research internship @ Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover where I found my passion for academic research, animal welfare science all the things that followed. Right: me, trying to look serious and hide my sheer delight about all the trust and responsibility I have just been given, aiming to share all the amazing stuff beyond welfare science with everyone at the Faculty. #fortheanimals 🐓 🐖 🐇 🐐 🐄 🐎 🐕 🐈 🦄 #forknowledge #collaboration #transdisciplinarity #welfare #AI #sensors #ethics #integration #research #education #outreach

Journalist Stijn Bronzwaer has written an engaging article on the positive impact #AI is making today, featuring an inspiring interview with Daphne Odekerken from the National Police Lab AI. Daphne developed an AI #chatbot specifically designed to assist citizens in reporting crimes. Thanks to this innovative chatbot, crime reports are now more thorough and complete when filed, enabling the police to handle cases more efficiently and effectively. It's an exciting example of how the researchers in our AI Labs are helping to improve public service!

📢 Call for Projects: Applied Data Science Master's thesis project With the academic year in full swing, I'm excited to announce that around 150 students have started the (ADS) Master’s program at Utrecht University. This spring, they will start their 10 week thesis projects. This is the perfect opportunity for your organisation to collaborate with data science talent! But don't take my word for it. Here's what Alex Ridden from Knights Analytics shared about their collaboration with ADS students Natalia Kurdanova and Luis Docampo Mateos-Pardo: "We had the pleasure of working with two very talented students. We were really pleased with dedication and curiosity." Interested? Leave a comment or message me at d.a.kolkman@uu.nl.