Lector Cybercrime & Cybersecurity Rutger Leukfeldt was already working at the Netherlands Study Centre for Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR). To complement this, he came to do research at THUAS for the first time in 2017. A golden move, it soon turned out. ‘This combination makes my work even more versatile and allows me to make more impact,’ he says.
‘At the NSCR, we do fundamental scientific research, but we noticed that there was not much of a connection with practice,’ Rutger begins. ‘That’s why we were already looking at THUAS with a slanted eye: there, research into cybersecurity really happens from questions from society. When it then turned out that THUAS had plans for a research group in cybersecurity ánd I was on the shortlist for the position of lector, it was a sure thing. Now I work about half my time at THUAS and the rest at the NSCR. Because of this combination, I notice that our high-quality research lands in society. People benefit from it.’
Rutger is asked to speak all over the world, but that is only part of his job. ‘I also supervise PhD students, stand in front of the class, develop new education, supervise projects, write scientific articles, sit on all kinds of committees and work hard to win new research assignments. I get my energy from this variety. Especially when I see the effects of what we do. For instance, together with the police we developed interventions to prevent young people from committing cybercrimes. These are now being used in practice.’
‘At THUAS, research is very well organized,’ thinks Rutger. ‘There is a strong focus on a few subjects, but at the same time a lot of space to do the things you think are important. Entrepreneurship is really rewarded. That’s great, because it allows us to make a lot of impact,’ he points out. Laughs: ‘And it’s dangerous too, because I think a lot of things are important! But it’s also all SO much fun. I leave for Denmark tomorrow to speak at a congress. Nobody says I have to, but I just know: that’s where it happens. When I’m there, I get to know new people, new opportunities arise and we can mean even more to society.’
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