News

Pamela Habibovic, the Rector Magnificus of Maastricht University, has been this year’s named Top Woman of Limburg province. The announcement was made by the Topvrouwen Limburg foundation at their annual meeting in Venlo.

A new paper by Associate Professor Steffen Künn from Maastricht University School of Business and Economics (forthcoming in the Review of Economics and Statistics) now provides novel evidence that providing unconditional financial support to encourage geographical mobility among unemployed job seekers can actually do more harm than good. “This is key information for policymakers who should rethink their strategies,” Künn says.

Vascular biologist Judith Sluimer was appointed professor of cardiovascular pathophysiology in October 2020. In her inaugural lecture, she alluded both to the importance of oxygen in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels as well as to the ‘fresh air’ she believes academia is always in need of. Biology may be her great love; however, Judith also jumps in wholeheartedly when it comes to greater equality in ‘the system’ and the related support she gives to the bachelor, master’s and PhD students she supervises. “Freedom is a very important component of being happy in my job.I want others to be able to experience that as well.”

Since 2010, Maastricht University, in cooperation with the Province of Limburg, has invested heavily to increase the supply of science. The positive results of this are visible through the Brightlands campuses, among others. The conclusion of the project, called "Strengthening Natural Sciences," was festively marked with the unveiling of a work of art.

Be it phishing emails or helpdesk employees who ask you to transfer money— digital crime is on the rise and is becoming even slicker. Artificial intelligence can play both a negative and positive role in this. On the one hand, new forms of cybercrime are emerging from AI; on the other hand, AI is helping to trace criminals. We spoke to Prof. Frank Thuijsman and Prof. Anna Wilbik, both professors of data science, and the coordinator of the Limburg Police Department’s cybercrime team. Thuijsman and Wilbik joined hands with the National Police Force to develop new tracing methods. What are the challenges faced in tracing digital crime? What opportunities do new (AI) technologies offer?

In the new edition of Hecht, pediatric intensivist Piet Leroy talks about his work at both the hospital and the faculty. 

A new tinnitus treatment using Deep Brain Stimulation is being trialled at MUMC+ ­with promising results. PhD student Jana Devos and Assistant Professor Mark Janssen on the mysterious disease, brain implants and startled rats.

With the tear fluid research set up by Marlies Gijs, she is doing groundbreaking work.

METRO introduced the extra-curricular course 'Introduction to Chinese Law' to the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University. The course is almost exclusively taught by Chinese (current and former) PhD researchers affiliated with the Faculty of Law and/or METRO. It will run from October until December 2023.

Course organizers are Kena Zheng (who initiated the idea) and Niels Philipsen, with Michael Faure and Mariolina Eliantonio as advisory members. Speakers include Niels Philipsen and Michael Faure, Pengfei Wang (Science Po), Kena Zheng, Xiaoli Xu, Tongle Si, Xi Lin, Guotong Shen, Qian Li, Doudou Huang and Haiyang Yu.

The course consists of five classes, each of which includes two lectures . The interest in the course turned out to be huge: more than 125 students and some staff members registered!