"As a data scientist, I try to bridge the gap between data analysis and sports practice. I sit down with coaches and researchers to find out what problems they are facing. I try to use data to simplify their daily work by automating certain processes and building (prototype) applications. I also perform machine learning analysis to get more insight into the collected data. Using the Sport Data Valley platform, insights and applications are also more widely accessible to other coaches and researchers. At the Vrije Universiteit, I work as an assistant professor and teach a course on data science for human movement scientists. In this course, I teach them the basics of data science. The students have to work hands-on on a mini data science project. They will answer a question from a coach or health practitioner by building prediction models."
"After the research master, I went on to do a PhD where I researched determinants of sprint and endurance performance and noticed that each athlete has their own unique combination to achieve a good performance. To be able to analyse this properly, I delved into data science and did a traineeship/postmaster in the field of data science. Before this I worked at a national project Citydeal that investigated real estate fraud using data science. Here, I came into contact with Arno Knobbe, who leads his own group in the field of Sport Data Science. This was the ideal combination for me, and I wanted to further explore this. He tipped me off to the Sport Data Valley project. That's how I started working there in 2018."
I have learned several things during my education that are now reflected in my work. For instance, critical thinking, analysis and programming, these are all things that I bring into practice in my current job.
A tip from Stephan: Look at what interests you and what gives you energy and start working somewhere where you think you can find this. Talk to people who are doing this type of work and ask them how a regular workday looks like.
