
The Graduate School on Engineering Mechanics
The Graduate School on Engineering Mechanics was founded in 1996 and received a five-year accreditation of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) directly at the first application in June 1997.
The EM Graduate School embraces all internationally important research groups that are active in the field at Eindhoven University of Technology, Delft University of Technology and at the University of Twente. Eindhoven University of Technology acts as the commissioner of the EM Graduate School, locating the EM Secretariat.
In 2001 a peer review of the activities of the Graduate School over its first period of operation by an international review panel took place and in 2002 the ECOS (Research school accreditation committee)/KNAW-accreditation of the Graduate School on Engineering Mechanics was renewed. In 2006 a peer review of the activities of the Graduate School over its second period of operation by an international review panel took place. In 2007 the Graduate School on Engineering Mechanics received the ECOS/KNAW-accreditation for its third period of operation (2007-2013). In 2013 the Graduate School received the ECOS/KNAW accreditation for its fourth period of operation (2013-2019).

Mission statement
The Graduate School on Engineering Mechanics has been established with the aim to strengthen research and education in the field of engineering mechanics in The Netherlands. The EM Graduate School intends to be a platform that, on the basis of a number of selected research themes, fosters long-term knowledge and skills in the engineering mechanics field. Although operating primarily at a national level, it intends to stimulate international collaborative research projects within the research themes. Within the foregoing global objectives the following more specific objectives can be formulated:
- Training of PhD-students to become qualified independent researchers in the field of engineering mechanics according to international standards. To this end, a series of high-quality graduate courses is developed on specific subjects.
- Co-ordination and tuning of the engineering mechanics research activities in the participating groups. Furthermore, the Graduate School aims at strengthening the available infrastructure for research in engineering mechanics. It can be stated that the present infrastructure meets high international standards.
- Selection of the main research themes in engineering mechanics carried out within the Graduate School EM. These research themes are being characterized by a strong international position of the research in The Netherlands, while at the same time they are of importance for Dutch industry and society.
- Strengthening of the international scientific position and the international visibility of The Netherlands in the engineering mechanics field.
- Guarding the standards of undergraduate education in the engineering mechanics area at the Dutch universities. This is done in particular by influencing policies with respect to the appointment of professors and other senior staff in this area.

Organization
The organizational structure of the Graduate School Engineering Mechanics is summarized in the following organization chart:

The Scientific Director is in charge of the day-to-day management of the Graduate School. Local Directors from the participating universities assist him in this. Eindhoven as commissioner supplies extra support for the general management and secretariat. Altogether they form the Management Team.
The Governing Board establishes the annual plans on research, education and finances of the Graduate School. They are advised on this by the Advisory Board, which consists of representatives from industry and applied research institutes.
Board of directors
Scientific director and local director for Eindhoven University of Technology
prof.dr.ir. E.H. (Harald) van Brummelen
Eindhoven University of Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Multiscale Engineering Fluid Dynamics

Local director for Delft University of Technology
prof.dr.ir. L.J. (Bert) Sluys
Delft University of Technology
Department of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
Computational Mechanics, Structural Mechanics and Dynamics

Local director for University of Twente
prof.dr.ir. A.H (Ton) van den Boogaard
University of Twente
Department of Engineering Technology
Applied Mechanics

Local director for University of Groningen
prof.dr.ir. E. (Erik ) van der Giessen
University of Groningen
Department of Science and Engineering
Micromechanics

Advisory board
The Advisory Board, consisting of representatives from industry and applied research institutes, advises the Governing Board on strategic matters concerning research and education of the EM Graduate School.
dr.ir. P. (Peter) van den Berg
Deltares Geo-engineering
PO Box 177
2600 MH Delft

dr.ir. F.J. (Frederic) Blom
NRG
PO Box 25
1755 ZG Petten

ir. H.J. (Henk Jan) ten Hoeve
National Aerospace Laboratory NLR
Aerospace Vehicles Division
Voorsterweg 31
8316 PR Marknesse

dr.ir. E. H. (Eisso) Atzema
TATA Steel Research Development & Technology
Postbus 512
1970 AM IJmuiden

ir. H.C.L. (Hugo) Vos
DEMCON advanced mechatronics Delft B.V.

r. Ir. A.W.J. Gielen (Sander)
ASML Research/Scanner/ Flow &
Thermal
De Run 6501
5504 DR, Veldhoven

dr. ir. R. (Rob) Willekers
TNO
Stieltjesweg

Governing board
The Governing Board establishes the annual plans on research, education and finances of the Graduate School. They are advised on this by the Advisory Board.
Chairman
prof. dr. ir. A.H (Ton) van den Boogaard
University of Twente
Department of Engineering Technology
Applied Mechanics

Governing board member
prof. dr. ir. L.J. (Bert) Sluys
Delft University of Technology
Deparment of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
Computational Mechanics, Structural Mechanics and Dynamics

Governing board member
prof. dr. ir. A. (Akke) Suiker
Eindhoven University of Technology
Department of Built Environment
Applied Mechanics and Design

Governing board member
Dr. ir. M. (Matthijs) Langelaar
Delft University of Technology
Department of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Computational Design and Mechanics

Governing board member
Prof. dr. ir. E. (Erik) van der Giessen
University of Groningen
Department of Science and Engineering
Micromechanics

Governing board member
prof. dr. S. (Stefan) Luding
University of Twente
Department of Engineering Technology
Multi Scale Mechanics MSM

Board of PhD candidates
The board of PhD candidates represents the PhD students participating in the EM Graduate School. They are involved in the evaluation of events of the Graduate School, like the EM Symposium and the EM course program. Moreover, they initiate activities for fellow PhD-students.
Local representative for the Delft University of Technology
ir. L. (Lidan) Zhang
Delft University of Technology
Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering (PME)

Local representative for the Eindhoven University of Technology
Ir. B.H.H.A. (Britt) Cordewener
Eindhoven University of Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanics of Materials

Local representative for the
University of Groningen
ir. L. (Lei) Zhang
University of Groningen
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Engineering and Technology Institute.
Computational mechanics and
materials engineering

Local representative for the University of Twente
ir. V.M. (Vincent) blumer
University of Twente
Department of Engineering Technology
Nonlinear Solid Mechanics


GDPR
This Privacy Notice applies to the Graduate School on Engineering Mechanics (“EM Graduate School“) and is intended to comply with the European Union’s (“EU”) General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). This Privacy Notice applies to personal data that the EM Graduate School collects or processes about an individual member of the graduate school (“Data Subject”). “Personal Data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable Data Subject.
Collecting and Processing Personal Data
The EM Graduate School collects Personal Data for the purpose of its legitimate tasks (as recorded in the “Gemeenschappelijke Regeling Interuniversitaire Ondezoeksschool EM”), which include the organization of teaching activities and community events, as well as annual reporting and evaluation obligations. Collecting and processing of Personal Data is necessary for the effective execution of these legitimate tasks. The Data Subject has given consent for the processing of his or her Personal Data for one or more specific purposes.
Types of Personal Data Collected/Processed and Purpose
The EM Graduate School collects the following categories of Personal Data in order to execute its tasks:
- Name
- Contact information including, without limitation, email address, physical address, phone number, and other location data
- Unique personal identifiers and biographical information
- Details of employment
The Personal Data that the EM Graduate School collects may be used for reporting and evaluation purposes. The name and contact information may be shared with local organizing committees operating within the EM Graduate School at participating institutes for the purpose of organizing teaching activities and community events.
If a Data Subject has specific questions regarding the collection and use of his or her Personal Data, he or she may contact the Graduate School via engineering.mechanics@tue.nl.
If a Data Subject refuses to provide Personal Data that the EM Graduate School requires in connection with its legitimate purposes, such refusal may make it impossible for the EM Graduate School to provide the Data Subject with the services that an EM Graduate School member is entitled to.
Where the EM Graduate School gets Personal Data
Most often, the EM Graduate School receives Personal Data directly from the Data Subject. In addition to data collected from the Data Subject, the EM Graduate School may collect data related to scientific output from public repositories.
Individual Rights of the Data Subject under the GDPR
In addition to the right to receive the information provided in this privacy notice, Data Subjects covered by this privacy notice have the right to:
- Request from the EM Graduate School access to and rectification or erasure of Personal Data or restriction of processing concerning the Data Subject, the right to object to processing and the right to portability of Personal Data.
- Where processing is based upon consent, to withdraw consent at any time, without affecting the EM Graduate School’s right to process Personal Data based upon consent before its withdrawal.
- The right to file a complaint with a supervisory authority appointed by an EU member state for the purpose of receiving complaints.
- If the Personal Data is going to be further processed for a purpose other than that for which it was collected, then notice of the purpose and basis for the further processing is given.
- Where Personal Data are processed for direct marketing purposes, the right to object at any time to processing Personal Data concerning him or her for such marketing; and
- Not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, which produces legal effects concerning him or her or similarly significantly affects him or her; provided, however, that this right does not apply if the decision is based upon the Data Subject’s consent.
Note: Exercising these rights guarantees access to a process but does not guarantee any particular outcome. Any Data Subject who wishes to exercise any of the above-mentioned rights may do so by filing a request with the EM Graduate School at engineering.mechanics@tue.nl.
Website
The EM Graduate School’s website uses a third party internet hosting service and is developed and maintained using the content management system provided by that service. The EM Graduate School does not automatically collect personal information through its website. The EM Graduate School publicly distributes information through its website that is essential for the execution of its tasks, including, but not limited to, annual reports, symposium books, course descriptions and board memberships.
Security of Personal Data subject to the EU GDPR
All Personal Data collected or processed by the EM Graduate School under the scope of the GDPR must comply with the security controls and systems and process requirements of the institute hosting the secretariat of the EM Graduated School (Eindhoven University of Technology).
The EM Graduate School will not share your Personal Data with third parties, except:
- as necessary to execute one of its legitimate tasks, pursuant to consent provided by the Data Subject, or as required by law.
- as necessary to protect the EM Graduate School’s interests.
- with service providers acting on EM Graduate School’s behalf who have agreed to protect the confidentiality of the Personal Data. Sharing of Personal Data with such service providers is restricted to the name and contact details of the Data Subject.
Data Retention
The EM Graduate School maintains records of its members until a maximum of two years after termination of the membership. The exception to this is the information kept in the alumni database, which encompasses the following information of the Data Subject: name, (e-mail) address, details of PhD graduation (university, defense date, thesis title). Unless requested otherwise by the Data Subject, this alumni information is stored indefinitely.
