ir. TN (Tijmen) Kerstens

After graduating from by BSc and MSc Plant Sciences (WUR) in 2017, I've started working at WUR in 2018, and now fulfil three distinctly different roles in the organization at three separate teams.

Research and Education Assistant (HPP)
Since November 2018 I've been working at the Horticulture and Product Physiology (HPP) chair group. In this role I am the Data Steward for my chair group, provide technical support for students and staff in greenhouse cultivation experiments, supervise peer groups / thesis rings, promote Plant Science education at the WUR Open Days, teach in various courses (as lecturer and/or practical facilitator), provide logistical support for courses, and build (and sometimes help design) exams for courses. My primarily speciality is in crop greenhouse cultivation in relation to light intensity and spectra, and crop growth modelling. As additional activity I also participate as an external member to the WUR Council Education, Research and Internationalization (ER&I) committee.

Education Coordinator Data Science & AI (WDCC)
Since May 2025 I am also working for the Wageningen Data Competence Center (WDCC). In my role here I provide a bridging role between the WUR science groups, the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) and the WUR research community. Activities include providing information and connecting stakeholders within the Data Science and AI topic, the institutional coordination of projects and resource development across WUR domains within these topics, and promoting the cooperation across the WUR domains related to education of data science and AI.

Educational Advisor AI (TLC)
Since July 2023 I work closely with (and since September 2025 directly for) the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) in which I provide teachers, students, and TLC staff with information on the responsible use of generative AI tools and services within education. This includes providing workshops to students and staff, developing educational materials on this topic, and maintaining support information for students and staff on our digital platforms.