At MEMSYS, we talk about innovation, collaboration and pushing the limits. None of that happens without the incredible minds and energy driving it all forward. So we are doing a series of interviews and handing the mic to the team.
These Interviews are a window into the people behind the projects- their passions, perspectives and what fuels them everyday at MEMSYS.
Get ready to meet the talent and see why teamwork makes the dreamwork !
Today the floor is to Job Valkenburg, Mechatronics Intern.
Hello Job, tell us a little bit about your background.
Hello! I’m from Delft and I’ve lived here my whole life. To be more specific, I’m from Den Hoorn, which is a small town near Delft. I’m a mechatronics student at The Hague University of Applied Sciences and I’m currently in my fourth year, doing my graduation internship at MEMSYS, and it’s been a really valuable experience. As a startup company, MEMSYS gives you the chance to take real ownership of your work. The team is young, dynamic and easy to work with, which creates a great learning atmosphere- to be honest I really enjoy it here- it’s more relaxed but focused and quite personal.
You study mechatronics. What was the main focus of your thesis project, and how did the internship at MEMSYS shape or influence it?
My internship was a bit different from most interns here because of my background at The Hague University. My project focused more on designing a test setup rather than doing fundamental research and development. The goal of the setup was to accelerate the lifetime testing of an energy harvester. Normally, an energy harvester is expected to last around 10 years, but of course, we don’t want to wait that long to verify its durability. So I created another setup that could simulate this within about two weeks.
What was the most valuable skill of lesson you learned at MEMSYS?
I think the most valuable lesson I learned- and it might sound cliche- was to “fail fast”. In the beginning, I tried to do everything strictly by the book, step-by-step. But I was encouraged to just try things out. If it doesn’t work you’ll find out quickly and adjust. That approach made me work more efficiently and become less afraid of making mistakes.
What motivated you to apply to MEMSYS?
Funny enough, I sat across from someone from MEMSYS during my internship at Allseas. I later came across the company on LinkedIn and thought it sounded like the perfect place for me. I was specifically looking for a small company with new technology, a cool environment, and a young team. MEMSYS checked all those boxes.
How did a typical day during your internship look like?
It really depended on the stage of the project. In the beginning, I was mostly focused on designing and testing the setup- modelling, going to the lab, testing and then iterating. I spent a lot of time in the lab, although I have to say I didn’t love the fact that it had no windows!
What was your favourite part of your internship?
One of my favourite parts was the first time my tests actually worked and gave good results. I had been working towards that for quite a while, and it felt good to finally see things come together.
So, now that the internship is coming to an end, what do you hope to take with you from this experience?
I think I’ve gotten better at asking for help. When someone else already knows how to do something, it’s okay to reach out and learn from them. I don’t have to figure everything out on my own. Relying on the expertise around me- that’s something I take with me.
Did you enjoy working here, and can you tell us a bit about the team and company culture at MEMSYS?
Yes, absolutely. I really enjoyed working in the lab and seeing my setup coming together. It was a rewarding process. I really like the culture here. It’s young and collaborative. There were about seven or eight interns during my time, all very smart people. It was great to bounce ideas off each other. Even though we came from slightly different backgrounds, we could learn a lot from each other. I also enjoyed being able to help others with practical aspects, thanks to my hands-on experience.
What do you think is the future of energy harvesting?
That’s a difficult question , I don’t think anyone can fully predict the future of the field precisely. But what’s clear is that energy harvesting holds a lot of promise, particularly for powering low-power devices like IoT sensors and embedded systems in remote or inaccessible areas. The idea of creating self-sustaining systems is incredibly powerful. That’s a realistic and very exciting application.
Ending Note from MEMSYS team:
This interview is a little bittersweet for us. Job just wrapped up his graduation project with us, and it also marks his last week at MEMSYS. Unlike some of our other faces of MEMSYS spotlights, this one captures the closing chapter of his time here. Job brought a unique energy and perspective to the team, and his enthusiasm, curiosity, humour and one-of-a-kind pool skillset will definitely be missed!
We wish him all the best in the next steps of his career and we are confident he’s going to do great things.
