In this field, historical data are exploited to examine relationships between variables. These relationships provide insight to better understand processes, but can also help predict certain target variables. Furthermore, he has expertise in research design and statistical testing for data issues.
Gert is interested in biology and ecology. Therefore he focuses within the research group on analysis of biological data: genetics of potatoes for selecting improved varieties, growth of shellfish in relation to environmental factors and developing a map layer for biodiversity based on data collected through citizen science by waarneming.nl.
Gert was trained in Methods and Techniques of Psychology (Psychometrics) at Leiden University (1999-2003) and has since applied Data Science to multiple fields.
For TNO he has worked on setting up and performing statistical analysis within epidemiological research and statistical assessment of research designs and research reports. For the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) he has contributed as a researcher to projects in which various government services (e.g. police, investigative services, tax authorities, IND, UWV) share data and research the use of Intelligent Data Analysis.