Deepbridge Horizon International College

Faculty

At Deepbridge Horizon International College, our faculty is the heartbeat of our innovative programmes, bringing a wealth of expertise from across Europe and beyond to inspire the next generation of thinkers. Hailing predominantly from EU nations, our educators embody the Netherlands’ welcoming stance on highly skilled migrants—many secured their roles through streamlined work permits for international schools, allowing seamless transitions without the full rigour of Dutch language mandates. Drawing from the calibre of staff at institutions like Phillips Academy Andover or Eton College, where advanced degrees and publications are par for the course, our team blends rigorous scholarship with a passion for mentoring adolescents. We’re not infallible; a few have juggled research grants with impromptu student crises, but that’s the beauty of it—real education thrives on such human touches. Below, meet the dedicated minds shaping our six core programmes, each with at least a decade of experience tailored to high school learners.

Advanced Sciences Programme

Dr. Eline Smeulders

Head of Advanced Sciences | PhD in Molecular Biology, University of Groningen (2008) Dr. Smeulders, a Dutch native with roots in the Frisian countryside, joined us in 2016 after a stint at the University of Amsterdam’s marine research lab. Her journey wasn’t without detours—a year-long sabbatical chasing bioluminescent plankton in the North Sea left her with sunburnt notebooks and invaluable field insights. With over 15 years in secondary education, she specialises in biochemistry and ecology, guiding students through hands-on dissections and ethical debates on gene editing. Her teaching philosophy? “Science is messy, like life—embrace the spills.” Eline’s publications include:

  • “CRISPR-Cas9 Applications in Microbial Ecosystems,” Journal of Applied Microbiology, Vol. 129, No. 4, pp. 567-582, 2021.
  • “Algal Blooms and Climate Resilience in the Wadden Sea,” Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 55, Issue 12, pp. 7890-7905, 2020.
  • “Bioethical Frameworks for Synthetic Biology in Education,” Bioethics Quarterly, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 234-251, 2019.

Prof. Lars Vlaming

Senior Lecturer in Physics | MSc in Theoretical Physics, Leiden University (2005); PhD, ETH Zurich (2010) Originally from Belgium’s Ardennes region, Lars relocated to Amsterdam under the EU Blue Card scheme for highly qualified professionals, finding the city’s canal-side labs a perfect fit since 2014. A former particle physicist who once nearly upended a cyclotron during a demo (a story he shares to demystify errors), he now captivates with quantum mechanics simulations using everyday objects like spinning tops. His 12 years of high school teaching emphasise experimental design, fostering resilience in pupils who, like him in his youth, once feared the unknown. Key works:

  • “Quantum Entanglement in Pedagogical Contexts,” European Journal of Physics, Vol. 42, No. 6, 015301, 2021.
  • “Relativistic Effects in High School Laboratories,” Physics Education, Vol. 56, Issue 3, pp. 035012, 2020.
  • “Feynman Diagrams for Adolescent Learners,” American Journal of Physics, Vol. 88, No. 7, pp. 567-575, 2019.

Dr. Mira Terborg

Lecturer in Chemistry | PhD in Organic Chemistry, University of Antwerp (2012) Mira, hailing from a quiet corner of northern Germany, navigated the Netherlands’ recognition process for her foreign diploma with characteristic Teutonic efficiency before joining in 2018. She’s the one who turns stoichiometry into storytelling, often pausing lessons for impromptu tea breaks when a reaction fizzes unexpectedly. With 10 years bridging university research and secondary classrooms, her focus on green chemistry inspires sustainable lab projects. Publications:

  • “Sustainable Catalysts from Waste Biomass,” Green Chemistry, Vol. 23, No. 9, pp. 3456-3470, 2021.
  • “Reaction Kinetics in Educational Settings,” Journal of Chemical Education, Vol. 98, Issue 5, pp. 1567-1578, 2020.
  • “Polymer Degradation Pathways,” Macromolecules, Vol. 52, No. 14, pp. 5890-5902, 2019.

Mathematics and Analytics Programme

Dr. Pieter Kromhout

Programme Coordinator | PhD in Applied Mathematics, Delft University of Technology (2009) A lifelong Amsterdammer whose family traces back to the city’s golden age shipbuilders, Pieter came aboard in 2015, fresh from consulting on flood models for the Dutch government. He admits to a weakness for cryptic crosswords that sometimes bleeds into his problem sets, making them delightfully devious. Over 14 years teaching teens, he champions data visualisation, turning abstract stats into interactive dashboards. Notable publications:

  • “Stochastic Modelling for Urban Flood Risk,” Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 612, Part A, 126045, 2022.
  • “Algorithmic Thinking in Secondary Education,” Mathematics Education Research Journal, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 289-305, 2021.
  • “Graph Theory Applications in Logistics,” Operations Research Letters, Vol. 49, Issue 4, pp. 456-462, 2020.

Ms. Sofia De Winter

Lecturer in Statistics | MSc in Data Science, KU Leuven (2013); pursuing PhD part-time From Belgium’s Flemish heartland, Sofia arrived via intra-EU mobility in 2017, her passion for Bayesian inference ignited during a rainy internship in Ghent. She’s known for her “failure Fridays,” where classes dissect botched models—lessons from her own early coding blunders. With 11 years in analytics education, she equips students for real-world uncertainty. Select works:

  • “Bayesian Networks for Educational Assessment,” Journal of Educational Measurement, Vol. 59, No. 1, pp. 112-130, 2022.
  • “Machine Learning Ethics in Classrooms,” Statistics Education Research Journal, Vol. 21, Issue 2, pp. 45-62, 2021.
  • “Predictive Analytics in Social Sciences,” International Statistical Review, Vol. 89, No. 3, pp. 678-695, 2020.

Dr. Hans Jolink

Senior Tutor in Pure Mathematics | PhD in Number Theory, University of Bonn (2007) Hans, a German émigré who settled in the Netherlands on a research visa in 2012, brings a philosophical bent to proofs, often quoting Hilbert over coffee. His career detour into actuarial work added practical flair, though he jokes it nearly made him abandon academia for spreadsheets. Now with 13 years at secondary level, he nurtures logical elegance. Publications:

  • “Diophantine Equations in Modular Forms,” Journal of Number Theory, Vol. 225, pp. 123-145, 2021.
  • “Euclidean Geometry for High School Reform,” The Mathematical Gazette, Vol. 105, No. 548, pp. 456-470, 2020.
  • “Prime Distribution Patterns,” Proceedings of the AMS, Vol. 148, No. 6, pp. 2567-2580, 2019.

Humanities and Social Studies Programme

Dr. Lena Vermeulen

Head of Humanities | PhD in History, Sorbonne University (2011) Born in the Netherlands’ Limburg province, Lena’s path led her back home in 2019 after Parisian archives, where she once lost a week to a misplaced thesis draft (a humbling tale she shares with wide-eyed freshmen). Specialising in European intellectual history, her 12 years teaching emphasise narrative over dates, sparking debates on Enlightenment echoes today. Key texts:

  • “Enlightenment Networks in the Low Countries,” Journal of Modern History, Vol. 94, No. 2, pp. 345-367, 2022.
  • “Colonial Legacies in Dutch Education,” History of Education Quarterly, Vol. 62, Issue 1, pp. 89-110, 2021.
  • “Philosophical Dialogues for Adolescents,” Ethics and Education, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 378-395, 2020.

Mr. Theo Bracke

Lecturer in Sociology | MA in Social Anthropology, Ghent University (2006); PhD, 2014 A Belgian Walloon who crossed the border effortlessly under EU freedoms in 2015, Theo’s fieldwork in migrant communities sometimes clashes with his allergy to small talk—yet he excels at drawing out student stories. With 10 years fostering social awareness, he integrates Amsterdam’s multiculturalism into lessons. Works:

  • “Urban Migration Dynamics in the Randstad,” Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 45, No. 7, pp. 1345-1362, 2022.
  • “Sociological Methods for Secondary Learners,” Sociology Compass, Vol. 15, Issue 4, e12890, 2021.
  • “Cultural Hybridity in Global Cities,” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Vol. 47, No. 12, pp. 2789-2805, 2020.

Dr. Nora Poldervaart

Tutor in Philosophy | PhD in Ethics, University of Utrecht (2010) From the Dutch polders, Nora joined in 2017, her ethical quandaries deepened by a brief NGO stint in ethics consulting that taught her the perils of overthinking. She guides 11 years of Socratic seminars, where silences are as vital as sparks. Publications:

  • “Moral Reasoning in STEM Contexts,” Journal of Moral Education, Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 223-240, 2022.
  • “Kantian Ethics for Young Minds,” Philosophical Studies in Education, Vol. 33, pp. 156-172, 2021.
  • “Existentialism in Contemporary Youth,” Youth & Society, Vol. 53, Issue 5, pp. 789-806, 2020.

Creative Arts and Design Programme

Ms. Freya De Smet

Programme Lead | MFA in Visual Arts, Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp (2009) Freya, a Belgian artist from the Scheldt estuary, ventured to Amsterdam in 2014 via cultural exchange grants, her studio once flooded by a canal mishap that inspired a water-themed series. Over 13 years, she melds analogue sketching with digital tools, encouraging “beautiful failures” in student portfolios. Select exhibitions and writings:

  • “Bio-Inspired Design in Education,” Design Studies, Vol. 72, 101012, 2021.
  • “Digital Sculpture Pedagogies,” Journal of Art & Design Education, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 456-472, 2020.
  • “Sustainable Materials in Youth Art,” Craft Research, Vol. 11, Issue 2, pp. 189-205, 2019.

Dr. Kai Lubbers

Lecturer in Music and Technology | PhD in Composition, Conservatory of Amsterdam (2012) A Dutch east coaster who briefly toyed with jazz in Berlin before returning under family ties in 2018, Kai composes glitchy symphonies that mirror student improvisations gone awry. His 9 years teaching fuse acoustics with coding, birthing experimental soundscapes. Compositions and papers:

  • “Algorithmic Music for Classrooms,” Computer Music Journal, Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 34-50, 2021.
  • “Sonic Ethnography in Urban Settings,” Ethnomusicology, Vol. 65, Issue 1, pp. 123-140, 2020.
  • “Interactive Scores for Adolescents,” Journal of New Music Research, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 567-583, 2019.

Mr. Rik Naessens

Tutor in Design Principles | MA in Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology (2008) From Flanders’ industrial belt, Rik eased into the Netherlands on a design fellowship in 2016, his prototypes occasionally self-destructing in demos—a rite of passage he celebrates. With 12 years innovating curricula, he champions user-centred projects. Works:

  • “Prototyping Failures as Learning Tools,” Design and Technology Education, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 78-92, 2021.
  • “Sustainable Engineering Aesthetics,” International Journal of Design, Vol. 15, Issue 1, pp. 45-60, 2020.
  • “Human Factors in Student Design,” Ergonomics in Design, Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 23-35, 2019.

Modern Languages Programme

Dr. Anneliese Köhn

Head of Languages | PhD in Linguistics, Humboldt University of Berlin (2010) Anneliese, from Germany’s Baltic coast, obtained her Dutch teaching credential swiftly in 2015, her accent still sparking classroom giggles. She weaves sociolinguistics into immersion trips, admitting her Mandarin pronunciation took years to tame. 14 years strong in multilingual pedagogy. Publications:

  • “Code-Switching in Multilingual Schools,” Language Learning, Vol. 72, No. 1, pp. 145-168, 2022.
  • “Cultural Narratives in Language Acquisition,” Modern Language Journal, Vol. 106, Issue 2, pp. 289-305, 2021.
  • “Bilingualism and Cognitive Development,” Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 456-472, 2020.

Ms. Clara Vandermeulen

Lecturer in French and Spanish | MA in Romance Languages, University of Liège (2007) Clara crossed from Belgium in 2013 under free movement, her love for flamenco-infused lessons born from a rainy festival flop. With 11 years, she crafts debate clubs that occasionally veer off-topic delightfully. Writings:

  • “Immersion Strategies for Adolescents,” Foreign Language Annals, Vol. 55, No. 4, pp. 789-805, 2022.
  • “Cross-Cultural Pragmatics,” Journal of Pragmatics, Vol. 189, pp. 123-140, 2021.
  • “Heritage Languages in Europe,” International Journal of Bilingual Education, Vol. 24, Issue 6, pp. 678-695, 2020.

Dr. Finn Sørensen

Tutor in Dutch and German | PhD in Germanic Philology, University of Copenhagen (2011) Though Danish, Finn’s EU roots eased his 2018 move, his hygge-inspired storytelling softening grammar drills—despite one epic tangent on Viking etymology. 10 years building bridges through words. Key texts:

  • “Dialectal Variations in Low German,” Journal of Germanic Linguistics, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 234-251, 2021.
  • “Language Policy in International Schools,” Language Policy, Vol. 20, Issue 3, pp. 345-362, 2020.
  • “Pedagogical Translation Techniques,” Translation Studies, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 56-72, 2019.

Technology and Engineering Programme

Prof. Daan Schrempp

Programme Director | PhD in Robotics, TU Delft (2006) Daan, a quintessential Dutch engineer from Rotterdam’s ports, started here in 2012 after tinkering with drones that once tangled in windmills. His 18 years demystify circuits with humour, turning glitches into group triumphs. Publications:

  • “Autonomous Systems in Education,” IEEE Transactions on Education, Vol. 65, No. 2, pp. 189-205, 2022.
  • “Sustainable Robotics Prototypes,” Journal of Field Robotics, Vol. 39, Issue 4, pp. 567-584, 2021.
  • “Embedded Systems for Teens,” ACM Transactions on Computing Education, Vol. 21, No. 3, Article 15, 2020.

Dr. Elise Zimmerman

Senior Lecturer in Computer Science | PhD in AI, RWTH Aachen (2013) From Germany’s Ruhr Valley, Elise’s 2019 visa for knowledge migrants was a breeze, her VR simulations occasionally crashing mid-lesson—a teachable tech hiccup. 9 years coding creativity. Works:

  • “Ethical AI in Secondary Curricula,” AI & Society, Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 123-140, 2022.
  • “Neural Networks for Problem-Solving,” Neural Computing and Applications, Vol. 34, Issue 5, pp. 3456-3472, 2021.
  • “Computational Thinking Frameworks,” Computers & Education, Vol. 168, 104210, 2020.

Mr. Bram Koopal

Lecturer in Engineering | MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven (2009) Bram, hailing from the Netherlands’ Veluwe forests, joined in 2017 post a prototype bridge-building contest that collapsed spectacularly. His 12 years emphasise iterative design, with labs full of salvaged successes. Publications:

  • “3D Printing in Engineering Education,” Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 27, No. 6, pp. 1123-1139, 2021.
  • “Mechatronics for High School,” Mechatronics, Vol. 78, 102567, 2020.
  • “Renewable Energy Models,” Renewable Energy, Vol. 152, pp. 789-805, 2019.

In our faculty, expertise meets empathy, creating a tapestry of guidance that’s as diverse as our student body. We’re proud of this collective, imperfections and all, for they mirror the innovative spirit we instil.