Abel Jansma
Currently
PhD in genetics and physics at the University of Edinburgh. We think about higher order genetic interactions in single-cell data, and how these interactions relate to cell type.
- Research Interests: Genetic interactions • Causality • Physics of biology • Physics of machine learning • Category theory • the Human Cell Atlas
Education
2015 - 2018
University of Amsterdam
- MSc Theoretical Physics.
Feb - Aug 2016
University of Copenhagen
- Visiting graduate student at the Niels Bohr Institute. Focused on biophysics and a research project on computational design in architecture.
2012 - 2015
University of Amsterdam
- BSc Physics and Astronomy. Graduated with honours and a minor in computational science.
Aug - Sep 2014
School of Machines, Making, and Make-Believe
- Summer school in physical computing. Led to work being exhibited in Berlin, and on festivals in the NLs and Finland.
2011 - 2012
HKU University of the Arts Utrecht
- Propedeuse in Art, Technology, and New Media Design.
Publications
A list is also available online.
Theses
2018
MSc Thesis
- E8 Symmetry Structures in the Ising model (A. Jansma, 2018) Under supervision of prof. Bernard Nienhuis
2016
BSc Thesis
- Chaos and Dimensionality in Wormspace (A. Jansma, 2016) Under supervision of prof. Greg Stephens
Online
2019
QuantumUniverse.nl
- Guest blog post Over vogels en vuurvliegjes (Dutch)
2019
QuantumUniverse.nl
- Guest blog post Solitonen in het zwembad (Dutch)
Code
2014
OpenProcessing.org
- Firefly synchronisation ran by ~4k people on openprocessing.org
2013
OpenProcessing.org
- Flocking and predator simulation ran by >12k people, and forked by 17 on openprocessing.org
Experience
Research
2018 - Present
University of Edinburgh | PhD Candidate
- Funded through the Precision Medicine programme.
- Jointly supervised by prof. Chris Ponting and dr. Ava Khamseh at the Human Genetics Unit, and prof. Luigi Del Debbio at the Particle Physics Theory group.
2017 - 2018
University of Amsterdam | Theoretical Physics dept.
- Master’s thesis on the mysterious appearance of affine Lie algebras in conformal field theories. Under supervision of prof. Bernard Nienhuis: E8 symmetry structures in the Ising model. (A. Jansma, 2018)
2015
University of Amsterdam | Biophysics dept.
- Bachelor’s thesis under supervision of prof. Greg Stephens: Mathematical chaos in the crawling behaviour of C. elegans.
2014
University of Amsterdam | Computational Science dept.
- Undergraduate research under supervision of dr. Jaap Kaandorp: Dynamics of the gene-regulatory network of an N. vectensis embryo.
Professional
2017 - 2018
SciPost | Information Officer
- SciPost is a completely open scientific publishing company. I helped expand the editorial board, profiling and contacting potential new editors. (Scipost.org)
2015 - 2017
ASML | Technology Scholar
- I was selected as one of 25 graduate students nationwide for a two-year professional development programme, focused on leadership in technology.
2017
SPUI25 | Member of the Junior Editorial Board
- Co-organised and presented monthly events to place academic ideas and research in a cultural context for a broad audience. (Spui25.nl)
2016 - 2017
Mediamatic | Distiller
- Designed, built, and demonstrated a bespoke still to be used in artistic olfactory research. (Mediamatic.net)
2014 - 2016
Betabreak | Committee member
- Organised and presented monthly debates at Amsterdam Science Park to stimulate cross-disciplinary discussion on science and society. (Betabreak.nl)
Volunteering
2017 - 2018
Anna’s Tuin en Ruigte | Beekeeper
- I was the beekeeper at this public permaculture garden. (AnnasTuinEnRuigte.nl)
2017
VoorleesExpress | Voorlezer
- I read books to children whose parents were not able to. (VoorleesExpress.nl)
Skills
Languages
- Dutch (native) • English (fluent) • German (conversational) • French (basic)
Programming
- Python • R • Matlab • Nextflow • Processing (Java) • Arduino (C++) • Bash/Zsh • Git • Mathematica
Visual
- Photoshop • Grasshopper (Rhino) • After Effects • Latex • Just enough css and html to make this website