His affinity with math led Thomas Brink to pursue a bachelor’s (cum laude) and master’s degree (summa cum laude) in Econometrics at Erasmus School of Economics. On top of that, he obtained an MSc in Computational Mathematics at Stanford University, where he was a student of Dutch Nobel Prize laureate Professor Guido Imbens. He is currently working for technology start-up Spotnana in Palo Alto.
‘In high school, I followed advanced math courses and participated in various math-related projects. Choosing econometrics allowed me to apply mathematical concepts in real-world scenarios. It was immediately clear to me that I wanted to do this in Rotterdam. The Open Day and the student-for-a-day experience gave me a really good feeling about Erasmus School of Economics and the people that I met. Besides, I have learned that Rotterdam is a great place to live as a student.’
What did you enjoy here?
‘Outside of my studies, I was able to do a lot of different things. My housemates and I had a great time together and as a teaching assistant (TA) I taught several classes. Being a participant in the Honours Class gave me an opportunity to deepen my knowledge through workshops, guest lectures, and company visits. For me, the highlight was the research project we undertook, which gave me a taste of what the combination of theory and practice can do. I also really enjoyed all the international opportunities that the university offered, which allowed me to meet people from different cultures and broaden my horizon. For instance, I was able to participate in the NAHSS (Netherlands Asia Honours Summer School), for which I worked on a consulting project and attended a summer school in Sichuan, China. In addition, I also went on an exchange to Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, where I followed classes and learned about the local culture as well. I am grateful to Erasmus School of Economics for giving me these chances.’
‘After finishing my BSc, I took a year out to gain practical experience by working at online retailer Picnic. During that time, I also made plans for my master’s, for which I was hoping to go to Stanford University in California. I managed to get accepted and find a large part of the necessary funds, but then Covid threw a spanner in the works. For me, an important reason to go was the experience of life on campus and the interaction with new people. However, I had no idea whether classes would be online or in person, so I decided to postpone my plans for a year. Instead, I enrolled in the econometrics master’s at Erasmus School of Economics. It turned out that a lot of my fellow students had also taken a break from studying after their bachelor’s, so I saw many familiar faces during the online classes. We even managed to study for exams together virtually. Overall, I had a pretty positive experience despite the pandemic.’
How was the selection process for Stanford?
‘It took me about six months to complete my application. This ranged from preparing a CV and writing a motivation letter to obtaining letters of recommendation from faculty staff and my supervisor at Picnic. In addition, I had to study for and sit tests to demonstrate my proficiency in English (TOEFL) and technical matters (GRE). Furthermore, I talked to various people who went through a similar process, which was super helpful. I would recommend anyone trying to apply to not be afraid to reach out to alumni. They usually really enjoy helping others and talking about their time at university!’
Can you give us an idea of the financial implications?
‘Studying at Stanford is not cheap; an academic year costs between $60,000 and $70,000 (including tuition, rent, books, food, and insurance). I was fortunate to have successfully applied for several scholarships in the Netherlands and, on top of that, worked as TA at Stanford for 20 hours a week. Stanford is one of the few universities that make it possible for students to fund a substantial part of their studies through work. The fact that, together with my scholarships, this work covered almost the entire cost of my Stanford adventure took away a huge amount of stress.’
Can you describe the Stanford experience?
‘At Stanford, people are all-in once they set foot on campus. Students are extremely driven and push each other to go the extra mile. Whether it is a course project, working on a start-up idea, or doing research with a professor, no challenge is too big. This is extremely contagious; seeing people around you work on all these interesting things really inspired me. Also, with so many smart students and professors who have shaped their field, there is a lot to learn. However, students can also overdo it when it comes to hard work. Everyone pushes each other, and sometimes people do not know where to stop. In Rotterdam, where people also work hard, I found there to be much more emphasis on a healthy work-life balance.’
This can be partly explained by the structure of universities. In the US, a university is not just for studying, it is also where you live, where your social life takes place, and where you find a plethora of clubs to join. I was a member of the Dutch society and joined the football team (or should I say ‘soccer’). As much as I enjoyed living on that beautiful campus, I really enjoyed travelling to other universities for a match representing Stanford. You really do feel that the university is part of your identity, especially when playing Berkeley, the big rivals.’
‘I definitely look back very fondly on my time in Rotterdam’
How did you get to know Guido Imbens?
‘For one of my electives, I decided on a course in econometrics taught by Guido. Of course, it was very special to follow a course taught by a Dutch Nobel laureate. His lectures were very popular even though class started at eight o’clock in the morning. There was a lot of room for interaction. Guido asked us to submit questions beforehand and based on his answers an interesting discussion would ensue during which he would share his own experience with us. It was also really nice that outside of class, he sometimes tried to socialise with his students as well, participating in extracurricular activities or inviting us over for dinner.
What is life after Stanford like for you?
‘I have always been interested in start-ups, as I find it very satisfying to work on a product in a small team and be closely involved in the company’s growth. Also, at Stanford and within Silicon Valley, so many exciting new ideas grow into companies, which is very inspiring. Currently, I am working for a start-up called Spotnana, a technology company based in Palo Alto (Silicon Valley) that aims to modernise the infrastructure of the travel industry. I started there in 2022 as an intern focusing on data and decided to return after my graduation. My current job focuses on data science and machine learning. It is both technical and strategic in the sense that I am also involved in planning how best to deploy these techniques in the future. What I really like is the ability to come up with an idea, present it to leadership, and implement it within a reasonably short time. While I am really enjoying the US, I would eventually like to return to Europe and continue with this type of work while living closer to home.’
What have you learned in Rotterdam?
‘Erasmus School of Economics provided me with a very solid base. At Stanford, I would sometimes even go back to my slides and syllabi from Rotterdam. In terms of professional ethos, I am pleased that I learned to work independently, take responsibility for planning my own activities, and deal with pressure while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I definitely look back very fondly on my time in Rotterdam.’
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This item is part of Backbone Magazine 2024. The magazine can be found in E-building or Theil-building for free. Additionally, a digital copy is available here. Backbone is the corporate magazine of Erasmus School of Economics. Since 2014, it is published once a year. The magazine highlights successful and interesting alumni, covers the latest economic trends and research, and reports on news, events, student and alumni accomplishments.
