Putting his PhD into practice: Jan Vermaelen

After several years in academia doing research on robot algorithms, Jan felt ready to change things up. In this blog, he explains how he applies his research mindset to hands-on client work.

After completing his studies in computer science and spending several years as a PhD researcher, Jan had plenty of options to consider for the next step in his career. “My PhD focused on safety rules in robot behaviour,” he explains. “What I always enjoyed about the field was its practical nature: I could work on concrete problems in autonomous robots, develop new algorithms, and test them immediately to see their effects. In this area, every change you make leads to immediate results, which feels incredibly rewarding.” Jan’s focus on tangible impact would soon prove to be an important factor in his decision for consulting.

“I’d already met some people from the Addestino team at the annual job fair at KU Leuven,” Jan recalls. “I would always stop by for a chat at their booth. The consultants were happy to share stories about the projects they were working on, which gave me a good idea of what they did and who they were. They seemed like people I could see myself working with at some point.”

What really sold Jan on joining, however, was the nature of the job itself. “While I didn’t know yet what my initial assignment would consist of, I felt confident in the Addestino methodology and their track record with past customer cases. I was looking for a workplace where my expertise would also be recognised and put to good use.”

Since joining the team about six months ago, Jan has been assigned to the same client project. “I’m embedded in the team of an IT services provider that specialises in residential care facilities and home care. They were struggling to meet a crucial deadline to deliver an entire new invoicing system, so they called upon us for support.”

Next to delivering this important software transition, Jan’s role has evolved. “I’m now teaching different departments within the organisation to apply agile methodology in their daily work. It’s satisfying to see how the shift to a more iterative approach is coming together and empowering the client teams I’ve been working with for months to execute faster.”

Jan has found that many of the habits he developed during his PhD translate well to his work at Addestino.  “I’d gained a lot of experience working independently. That carries over directly into my current role. Iterative ways of working, creative problem-solving, and complex client presentations are all things I was already doing in academia,” he explains. “There’s always a clearly identified customer, a deadline, and expectations around results. That sense of ownership and responsibility translates very well to the kind of client work we do here.”

Jan also points to the autonomy and flexibility he has in his job. “I can work from home, from the client’s office or at one of Addestino’s offices, in Zele or in Brussels.. This allows me to balance my deep work with meetings in a way that suits me best. It also helps that there’s a strong crowd of people with academic backgrounds here, which helped me to settle in quickly.”

Beyond his day-to-day project work, Jan also values the training he received. “The highlight that immediately springs to mind is the training around the Addestino DNA. The sessions that teach the relentless and consistent Addestino methodology have been the most valuable to me.”

“The ability to switch between a general consulting and a more technical expert track is often decisive for people with my background when joining Addestino,” Jan says. “I don’t feel pigeonholed in my role, and the freedom to move between different projects is a breath of fresh air. PhDs like me can start in the technical expert track and, if they choose, move to a general consulting role later on, without feeling stuck. That openness makes it a great place to grow.”