Wouter Van Rossem 🇰🇷

Wouter Van Rossem

Professional Summary

Wouter Van Rossem is a researcher on the intersection between social science and computer science. He previously worked on the European Research Council (ERC) funded project, Processing Citizenship, where he investigated how data infrastructures for population processing co-produce citizens, Europe, and territory. He completed his PhD at the University of Twente in the Netherlands and is still working on publications stemming from these impactful projects. In addition to his academic pursuits as a PhD at the University of Twente in the Netherlands, he brings a diverse background as a software engineer, having worked in various companies and at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Italy. His diverse background, spanning both theoretical and hands-on knowledge, reflects his keen interest in exploring the intricate interconnections between technology and society.

Education

PhD in Science, Technology, and Policy Studies

2018-04-15
2024-07-15

University of Twente

Postgraduate in Science, Technology, and Policy Studies

2018-08-01
2022-02-01

Netherlands Graduate Research WTMC

MsC in Business Administration

2012-09-01
2013-09-01

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

MsC in Applied Computer Science

2010-09-01
2012-09-01

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

BSc in Computer Science

2008-09-01
2011-09-01

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Interests

Intersections between IT (big data, AI, ML) and societal impacts. Mutual shaping of IT, organizations, and work through user-design relations. Bureaucracies and interoperability within government systems. Digital methods in social science research. Identification systems, digital identity, surveillance, and security.
Skills
Technical
Back-end software development (Java EE, Node.js)
Data and softare modeling and design
Quantitative and qualitative research
Academic and professional writing
Languages
English (C2)
Dutch (Mother tongue)
French (B2)
Italian (B1)
Korean (A2)
Featured Publications
Bridging silos or adding friction? The data work behind re-identification across interoperable data infrastructures featured image

Bridging silos or adding friction? The data work behind re-identification across interoperable data infrastructures

This paper investigates the technopolitics of identification across interoperable systems, with a particular focus on the identification of third-country nationals. In doing so, it …

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Wouter Van Rossem
The Ontology Explorer: A method to make visible data infrastructures for population management featured image

The Ontology Explorer: A method to make visible data infrastructures for population management

This article introduces the methodology of the ‘Ontology Explorer’, a semantic method and JavaScript-based open-source tool to analyse data models underpinning information systems.

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Wouter Van Rossem
Recent Publications
Selected Projects

Here are a selection of projects that I have worked on over the years.

PhD dissertation featured image

PhD dissertation

My dissertation investigates the interplay between data matching technologies, identification practices, and transnational commercialized security infrastructures, particularly …

Processing Citizenship featured image

Processing Citizenship

From 2018-2023 I was part of the European Research Council (ERC) funded Processing Citizenship project investigating the digital registration of migrants as co-production of …

Brussels Games Festival featured image

Brussels Games Festival

Between 2013 and 2016, I was involved with Ludiris, a non-profit association dedicated to hosting a board games festival in Brussels.

Talks & Events
PhD Defence Wouter van Rossem | Finding blind spots: Investigating identity data matching in transnational commercialized security infrastructures and beyond  featured image

PhD Defence Wouter van Rossem | Finding blind spots: Investigating identity data matching in transnational commercialized security infrastructures and beyond

The PhD defence of Wouter van Rossem took place in the Waaier building of the University of Twente and could be followed by a live stream.

Presentation at STS Italia 2023: 'An analysis of identity management system interfaces using data matching software' featured image

Presentation at STS Italia 2023: 'An analysis of identity management system interfaces using data matching software'

Presentation at STS Italia in Bologna in Panel 12 'The interfaces that inform security knowledge and practice'.

Panel 'Management of identities in transnational, supranational, and commercial reconfigurations' featured image

Panel 'Management of identities in transnational, supranational, and commercial reconfigurations'

For the end of the ERC Processing Citizenship project, we organised a conference in Bologna to share the results of our endeavours during two days of presentations, debates, …

The biography of an identification software system featured image

The biography of an identification software system

Systems and infrastructures for identifying and registering mobile populations have many facets and long development histories, and the researchers' partial perspectives will shape …

ERC Roundtable at 'Migration Data Governance' featured image

ERC Roundtable at 'Migration Data Governance'

Presented the Processing Citizenship project together with Dr. Chiara Loschi in 'Panel II - ERC Roundtable' at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa.