Marina van Damme Network

Marina van Damme Network

About Marina van Damme

Marina van Damme was born in 1930 in the Netherlands and graduated from TU Delft in 1953 as a chemical engineer. After five instructive years at TNO's Central Laboratory in Delft, she began her impressive career at Royal Dutch Salt Industry, KNZ (later merged into Akzo N.V.). First as a research assistant, later as head of the laboratory and deputy director of KNZ. During this period, she was also the first to obtain a doctorate in technical sciences at the then Technische Hogeschool Twente.

Around the age of 40, Van Damme decided it was time for something completely different. She wanted to major in business development. She gave up her position as deputy director at KNZ, responsible for central research, and got a business development position at Akzo N.V.'s head office. It was a leap of faith, but she soon climbed the career ladder again and became director of Akzo N.V.'s Central Staff in 1978. She advised the Board of Management on strategic and operational plans and on investment projects and acquisitions. She was on the Advisory Board of TNO and of ABN AMRO, was active in the employers' organisation VNO and a member of study groups looking at technology policy in Brussels and at the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In 1988, she was asked to become a member of the Scientific Council for Government Policy, on a part-time basis, and limited her positions at Akzo to Advisor on Chemical Strategic Developments to the Board of Management of Akzo N.V.

When I went to college in 1947, only 1 in 100 students in Delft were women.

Marina van DammeDoctor Engineer

Marina van Damme scholarship

Marina van Damme has championed equal opportunities for women in science and business throughout her career. Through her work for the Scientific Council for Government Policy and other advisory roles, she contributed to improving the position of women in the engineering sector.

To help female engineers and PhDs advance in their careers, she established the Marina van Damme scholarship in 2003. This scholarship, now attached to four Dutch universities, offers women with several years of work experience the chance to develop further. In addition, the scholarship stimulates mutual connection and knowledge sharing between women.

Scholarship €9,000

The Marina van Damme scholarship is awarded annually to talented female alumnae who have graduated and/or obtained a PhD from one of the members of the 4TU Federation: TU Delft, TU Eindhoven, University of Twente or Wageningen University & Research.

The scholarship amounts to € 9000 and is financially made possible by Ms Marina van Damme.

The scholarship offers them valuable support in taking the next step or turn in their career. The scholarship consists of an amount of € 9,000 and a sculpture, and is intended for broadening or deepening knowledge in the form of, for example, a programme, module or courses at an accredited institution.

Delft University of Technology

TU Delft

Delft University of Technology.

Application is possible from 1 April to 1 May.

For more detailed information about the criteria and the selection process, click on the apply button.

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Technical University of Twente

UTwente

University of Twente.

Application is possible from 1 April to 15 June.

For more detailed information on the criteria and the selection process, click on the apply button.

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Eindhoven University of Technology

TU Eindhoven

Eindhoven University of Technology.

For more detailed information about the criteria and the selection process, click on the apply button.

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Wageningen University & Research

WUR

Wageningen University & Research.

Applications can be made from 15 April to 30 May.

For more detailed information on the criteria and the selection process, click on the apply button.

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Criteria

The jury applies the following assessment criteria:

  1. Candidates should have obtained a master's degree or a PhD from the University of Twente, Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, or Wageningen University & Research. Preference is given to alumnae from technical disciplines working in a technological environment.
  2. The application has significance for the personal development of the candidate. It must involve:
    1. a ground-breaking and/or cross-disciplinary step,
    2. or turn in the career
  3. Preference will be given to women who have already established a career (at least 4 years of work experience outside their own university, a PhD track will only be included if a career in academia is pursued)
  4. Preference will be given to women whose parents have not pursued an academic education
  5. The application is demonstrably achievable within 4 years
  6. The application is realised at a recognised educational or research institute, at home or abroad
  7. The application must clearly show why the scholarship is essential for realising the step or turn in their career and how they intend to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their professional career
  8. The application must show how the candidate builds on her previous education
  9. The application clearly shows the added value the Marina van Damme Network offers for the candidate's career development and the contribution the candidate herself could and would like to make to the network
  10. It is permitted, and may even support the candidature, that an application also receives additional funding from other funds. It is therefore desirable and advisable to explicitly name additional applications in the application.
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