David Verweij

About (Academic)

See a non-academic version here

I am a creative technologist building digital and physical products, and always busy with user experience design, software and hardware. In my current academic position I specialise in a Research Through Design methodology. Using novel technologies and bespoke designs, I develop interactive research products and deploy them in-the-wild. Learning from these experienceable products allows the exploration of alternative futures. In particular, my interests lay in interaction with distributed data in everyday environments that support or relieve human cognition, in enjoyable, playful and less-utilitarian ways. In my current research, as a Doctoral Trainee, I deploy alternative approaches to explore data as a resource for family life. This contributes to the search to find family-inclusive ways to use, manage and enjoy data amongst the family at home, including children and elderly of all ages.

Parallel to this work, I experiment with designing software, hardware and product design, and enjoy woodworking, being outdoors and boardgames.

Contact me on Github, LinkedIn, or Email.

Resume (Academic)

Experience
now 01/21 Project Website Research Software Engineer - Open Lab, Computer Science, Newcastle University, UK
  • Designing, developing, and maintaining the ETL data pipeline for the IDEA-FAST project (Apache Airflow, Python, Docker, NoSQL)
  • Coordinate software architecture for clinical study management and data handling
  • Evaluated usability and user experience of digital health technologies used by patients
now 10/17 Open Lab Profile Postdoctural Researcher and Developer - Computer Science, Newcastle University, UK
  • Developed a Google Sheet extension to connect DIY smart displays with IFTTT.com: Phone Grown (JavaScript, HTML, CSS, NoSQL database)
  • Developed a cloud-based configurable data ‘physicalisation’ family toolkit: Domestic Widgets (C++, NodeJS, REST API)
  • Developed a conversation agent for the Google Home (DialogFlow language processing, FaaS, NoSQL)
09/20 02/18 Computer Science Teaching Assistant - School of Computing, Newcastle University, UK
  • MSc courses in Advanced Programming, Information Systems, Programming and Data Structures, and an Object-Oriented Programming BSc course
12/16 9/16 Visiting Researcher - Edinburgh Napier University, UK
  • Developed an AR app for gesture interaction with AR headsets: SmoothMoves (Java, Processing, C++)
  • Developed an Android smartwatch-app for motion-tracking interaction: WaveTrace _(Java, webserver)-
08/16 05/14 Company LinkedIn Page Co-owner and STEM Course developer - BétaBoomen, Eindhoven, NL
  • Developed and taught high school STEM courses
Skills
Software Development -
  • Server-side development using serverless (FaaS, NodeJS) and static virtual-machines with containerisation (Docker)
  • Real-time database integrations (NoSQL), REST APIs (NodeJS, Python)
  • Exploratory data analysis and 2D and 3D visualisation (Jupyter Notebook, pandas, D3.js, matplotlib, plotly)
  • Confident programmer across various languages (Python, JavaScript, Java, C++), and a quick learner to adapt to project needs
  • Consistent coder that writes for collaboration
  • Familiar with CI/CD, experienced in version control (Git)
  • Functional front-end development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
Soft skills and traits -
  • Project management, leading meetings
  • Verbal and written reporting (technical, academic, and public)
  • Social, team player and collaborative, but also self-directed and enterprising
  • Critical mindset, future thinking
  • Giving and receiving constructive feedback
Education
now 10/17 Open Lab Profile PhD in Human-Computer Interaction - School of Computing, Newcastle University
07/17 09/15 MSc in Industrial Design - Eindhoven University of Technology
07/15 09/10 BSc in Industrial Design - Eindhoven University of Technology
02/15 02/14 Minor Science Education and Communication - Eindhoven School of Education
Management and Volunteering
now 2018 CHI SC Webpage Web Co-chair - ACM SIGCHI CHI Steering Committee
07/20 10/18 CHI 2020 Webpage Assistant to the General Conference Chairs & Design Chair - ACM SIGCHI CHI Conference 2020, Hawaii, USA
2019 2018 CHI PLAY 2019 Webpage Design Chair - ACM SIGCHI CHIPLAY Conference, Spain
11/13 09/12 Lucid Webpage Vice-Chairman & Commissioner of Education - Study Association Industrial Design, Eindhoven, NL
Invited Workshops and Talks
07/20 Workshop on Designing for the End of Life of IoT Objects - Virtual, during the 2020 DIS Conference

An academic workshop on the sustainable and life ‘after death’ for the increasing number of IoT devices

05/20 Workshop om Self Sustainability in Human Computer Interaction - Virtual, during the 2020 CHI Conference

An academic workshop on self-powered sustainable interfaces and interactions

2019 2018 Presentation on Interaction Design - Edinburgh Napier University, UK

Presented my research on Domestic Widgets (in 2019) and on WaveTrace (in 2018) as closing plenary for the BSc Interaction Design

05/18 Workshop on Designing Smart Objects as Embodied Agents in Everyday Life - Lorentz Center, Leiden, NL

5-day academic workshop on the future of smart domestic objects to help frame future work in interaction design

06/15 Workshop at BENQ International - Taiwan TECH University Taipei, Taiwan

9-day product design workshop on future BENQ products

Awards and Grants
03/19 Doctoral Consortium Honorarium - Main applicant | $ 300

Received as part of my acceptance to CHI 2019 Doctoral Consortium

04/18 PGR Research Impact Scheme - Main applicant | £ 300

Used to host my research at the UK Maker Faire 2018 in Newcastle

09/18 Design United Demonstrator Grant - Co-applicant | € 5.000 | Ref. C2E1707

Used to translate the WaveTrace research project into a consumer product prototype

09/17 ACM Student Travel Grant - Main applicant | $ 1.370 | SSTG-May_2017 #130

Used for travel and accommodation for ISS 2017