Research Interest:

My work focuses on minimally invasive surgery, flexible endoscopy, needle interventions, endovascular interventions. We are cooperating with surgeons of several (university) hospitals, e.g. Leiden University Medical Center, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis Delft, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam.  Our research projects are in the fields of designing novel medical instruments, medical haptics, training and simulation systems, and patient safety, with the focus on minimally invasive techniques. Recently she started a number of projects to develop affordable and high quality (minimally invasive) surgical instruments for low and middle income countries.

For info on global surgery projects: HOME | BMEforGlobal Health

Short CV

Jenny Dankelman obtained her degree in Mathematics, with a specialisation in System and Control Engineering at the University of Groningen. Her PhD degree on the dynamics of the coronary circulation was obtained at the Man-Machine Systems Group, Delft University of Technology (DUT). This work was performed in close co-operation with the department of Medical Physics of the Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam. She continued her research at the Man-Machine Systems group and in 2001 she became professor in Minimally Invasive Technology.

In 2007 she became head of the Minimally Invasive Surgery and Interventional Techniques (MISIT) group. Between 2010 and 2014 she was head of the Department of BioMechanical Engineering of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (3mE) of the DUT. In 2013 she became Medical Delta professor.

In 2018 she received a Royal award and became Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

In 2019 she was elected as one of the most inspiring female leaders of the Netherlands (InspriringFifty), became member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), and received the Professor of Exellent award (Leermeesterprijs) from the Delft University of Technology. In 2023 she became member of the Netherlands Academy of Engineering (NAE)

TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX3BIjHoVJU

Education

1979-nov.1984   Study Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, State University of Groningen (RUG). Specialisation: System and control theory.

Work experience since graduating

2013-present        Medical Delta professor

2010-2014            Head Department of Biomechanical Engineering

2007-present        Head of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Interventional Techniques Group (MISIT)

2001-present        Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Professor

1999-2001            Associate Professor, focus Minimally Invasive Techiques

1992-1999            Assistant Professor,  Department of Measurement and Control, 

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology, DUT: 

- Supervising research projects on modeling the coronary circulation

1991-1992            Assistant Professor,  Dep. Medical Informatics, University of Amsterdam

- Teaching Medical Expert Systems to Medical Informatics students.

- Teaching Heart and Lung Function to Medical students

1989-1991             Post-doc researcher. NWO, Dept. Medical Physics, Univ. of Amsterdam.

- Development of simulation models of interacting (control) mechanisms.
- Application of identification techniques to the coronary vascular system.
- Animal experiments. Qualified to perform animal experiments.      

1985-1989             PhD Student, Lab. for Measurement and Control, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering,

Delft University of Technology. Promotor: Prof. dr. ir. H.G. Stassen Prof. dr. ir. J.A.E. Spaan. Doctorate date: 15-6-1989. Title of thesis: On the dynamics of the coronary circulation

National activities

• Technical Leader of NIMIT – Novel Instruments for Minimally Invasive Techniques, Center of Excellence of IMDI.nl, 1 of 8 ZonMW consortia on Medical Devices
• Leader of iMIT STW Perspectief program on novel instruments for minimally invasive techniqeus (2013-2019)
• Member Advisory Council on International Affairs,  Development Cooperation Committee (COS-AIV)
• Member of Delft Global Initiative Steeringcommittee
• Meber of Ethical board TU Delft
• Confidential Advisor for Scientific Integrity
• Chairman BAC single candidate procedures TU Delft (2015-2020)
• Chairman Board of professors TUD (2009-2011, 2011-2013 chairman)
• Chairman Scientific Board Dutch Society of Simulation in Healthcare(DSSH) (2009-2012)
• Co-founcer DEWIS Delft Women in Science Network. President DEWIS (2008- 2010)
• Organizing committee NVEC 2011

 International activities

• President of the iSMIT, Int. Soc of Medical Innovation and Technology, Chair iSMIT2016
• Co-organizer of DMD-Europe, 2013, 2014, 2016
• Member of the International Society of Medical Innovation and Technology (SMIT),
• Member of the Steering committee of SMIT
• Organizing committee of the SMIT conference Amsterdam 2003
• Member of the European Association of Endoscopic Surgery (EAES).
• Member of Technology Committee of EAES (2008-2015)
• Regularly (invited) presentations chairman at SMIT and EAES conferences
• Reviewer for Surgical Endoscopy, MITAT, IEEE Haptics, IEEE BME, MBEC. British J. Surg, etc.
• Member Editorial board MITAT (2005-present).
• Member of grant evaluation committee, Oslo 2009, 2011
• Associate editor of Medical & Biological Engineering and Computing (2005-2010)
• Member advisory board National Institute in Ultrasound, Norway (2008-present)
• International member of board of ACMIT(Austria Center on Medical Innovation and Technology) (Austria) (2010-present)
• Visiting professor UTM Malaysia (Nov 2011)

Project leader of the following projects:

• ATLAS (ITN- Marie Curie, 2PhD students, 2018-2022)
• Sensing in Surgery (3 PostDocs, IMDI / ZonMw, 2018-2022)
• SMART Surgical System (2 PhDs in NL, 2 RA in India, NWO-ZonMw/DBT, 2018-2022)
• EASIER, Training surgeons (1 PostDoc, EU Long life learning progam (2017-2020)
• OR for Everyone (1 researcher and PD, UfD fonds, 2018-2020)
• SAFE surgery 1 PhD 2015-2019 (1 PhD, Delft Global)
• Tissue characterisation in orthopedics 1 PhD 2016-2020 (1 PhD)
• HiPerNav, Navigation in Liver suregery (EU ITN, 1 PhD, 2016-2020)
• iMIT: Program leader of STW-Perspectief Program (19 PhD’s, 2PD, 6 support, 2013-2018) 
• NIMIT Development Center ZonMW, 3 Post Docs, 2013-2016
• Training and monitoring, Stichting Phoenix, 1 PhD, 2012-2016
• FUSIMO Focused US, EU-strep, 1 PD, 2012-2013
• MISTELA Cost Action, 1 Post Doc, 2013-2014
• STW Valorisation Grant, Isolator for minimally invasive techniques (2009-2010)
• Integrated Interventional Imaging (IIIOS)  (EU- ITN-Marie Curie 2 PhD, 2009-2012
• Force and motion measurements during surgical training (2 PhD’s, 2008-2012)
• Development of steerable needle (1 PhD, 2008-2010)
• Virtual reality in surgical training (DSW, 1 PhD, 2008-2012)
• Steerable instruments with sensors (1 Postdoc/1 techn, 2009-2010)
• Enhanced haptics in minimally invasive surgery (1 PhD (IO), 2007-2011)
• Control of oxygen control in preterm infants (Philips/Odas) 1 PhD 2007-2011)
• LIFE-OR, Development lighting and instrumentation system on the OR (STW 2 PhD’s, 2006-2010)
• Development of a tracking system for surgical instruments, TrEndo (1 PhD, 2003-2008)
• Development of a VR training system, the SIMENDO. Training of surgeons (1 PhD  2004-2008)
• Development of an Improved endoProsthesis for the upper EXtrimities (DIOC-DIPEX). Project 1: Surgical process during joint replacements(1 PhD, 2000-2004)
• MISIT-project 1: Task analysis surgical process and Instrument tissue interaction (2 PhD’s, 1998-2002).
• Minimally Invasive Surgery and Interventional Techniques (DIOC-MISIT) (10 PhD’s and 4 PhD’s, 1997-2004).
• A number of projects on modeling the coronary circulation (1989-2007)

 Finished PhD Students

• Sara Azizian, Smart Electrosurgical Knife, 27 May 2025

• Tom Goos, Monitoring and controlling oxygen therapy in preterm infants. 7 April 2025

• Merle Losch, Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for spin-surgical guidance. 9 Dec. 2024

• Di Wu, Control of Multi-Degree-of-Freedom catheters in unknown environments – Exploring the potential of deep learning and augmented reality, 13 Dec. 2023

• Zhen Li Deformation prediction and autonomous path planning for robot-assisted endovascular interventions, 15 Dec. 2023

• Maryam Gholinejad,From Theory to Practice – Surgical Process modelling and technological integration 22 Nov. 2023

• Martijn de Vries, Steerable Needles in Prostate Brachytherapy, 1 Dec 2023

• Bart van Straten. From surgical waste to medical products. 7 June 2022

• Akash Swamy. Breach detection using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy during spinal screw placement. 27 Jan. 2021

• Floris Gaisser. Deep learning for perception tasks. 4 Jan 2021
• Roos Oosting. Towards increased global availability of surgical equipment. 12 Dec. 2019
• Tonke de Jong, Needles and liver phantoms in interventional radiology. Design considerations. 20 Nov 2019
• Joost Mattheijer. Dockin Surgical guides. . Promotors: R. Nelissen, J. Dankelman, 20 Oct 2019
• Gert Kraaij. Percutaneous tissue removal for hip fixation. First steps to instrument design. Promotors: R. Nelissen, J. Dankelman 3 july 2019
• Frederique Meeuwsen. Surgical Signatures. Promotors JJ van den Dobbelsteen, J. Dankelman 29 May
• Hoda Sharei. Naviation of guidewires and catheters during interventional procedures. A computer-based simulation. Promotor: J. Dankelman, Jan 2019 
• Steven den Dunnen. Healing water - using pure waterjets to perform bone debridement treatments in orthopaedic surgery, Promotor J. Dankelman, G. Kerkhoffs, G.J.M.Tuijthof, 12 Dec 2018
• Sake Aimee. High Impact Technologies for Endovascular Treatment of Chronic Total Occlusions. Promotors: P. Breedveld, J. Dankelman, May 2018
• Ewout A. Arkenbout. Surgeon-Instrument interaction - a hands-off approach. Promotors: P. Breedveld, J. Dankelman, Co-promotor: J. de Winter. 12 feb 2018
• Knulst, Arjen. Surgical Lighting. Promotor: J. Dankelman. May 15, 2017
• Guedon, Annetje. Digital operating room assistant. Promotor: J. Dankelman, Co-promotor: J.J. van den Dobbelsteen. 5 July 2016
• Jelinek, Filip Steering and Harvesting Technology for Minimally Invasive Biopsy. Promotors: J. Dankelman, P. Breedveld. 12 jan 2015
• Sharon P. Rodrigues. Towards safety in minimally invasive surgery – patient safety, tissue handling and training aspects. Promotors: F.W. Jansen, J. Dankelman, LUMC 17 dec 2014
• Clogenson, H.C.M.  MRI-Compatible Endovascular Instruments: Improved Maneuverability during Navigation Promotor:  Dankelman, J.  Co-promotor Van den Dobbelsteen, J.J.  2014
• Henken, K.R. Smart needles for percutaneous interventions Dissertation  Promotor:  Dankelman, J.  Co-promotor Van den Dobbelsteen J.J. 2014
• Horeman, T.  Force-based assessment of tissue handling skills. Promotors:  Dankelman, J.,  Jansen, F.W.  2014
• Fan, C. Manual Control for Medical Instruments in Minimally Invasive Surgery. Promotor:  Dankelman, J.,  Breedveld, P.,  Dodou, D, 2014
• Dennis van Gerwen. Needle-Tissue Interaction by Experiment. Dankelman J., prof.dr. (promotor), van den Dobbelsteen J.J. (copromotor) 2013 | Dissertation
• Diederick van Hove. Towards safer laparoscopic surgery: training and assessment of surgical skills and equipment handling.  Mechanical Maritime and Materials Engineering | Dankelman, J., prof.dr. (promotor), prof.dr. L Stassen(promotor) 2013 | Dissertation 
• Anne van der Eijk On-ward obserations in neonatal intensive care: Towards safer supplemental oxygen and IV therapy : Dankelman J., prof.dr. (promotor), Simonsz H.J., prof. dr. (promotor), Smit B.J., Dr. (Copromotor) 2012 | Dissertation 
• Arjo Loeve. Staft-Guidance for flexible Endoscopes.  Mechanical Maritime and Materials Engineering | Dankelman, J., prof.dr. (promotor), dr. P. Breedveld (co-promotor) 2012 | Dissertation 
• Loubna Bouarfa. Recognizing surgical patterns. Mechanical Maritime and Materials Engineering | Dankelman, J., prof.dr. (promotor); Jonker, F.W., prof.dr.ir (promotor) 2012 | Dissertation 
• Anne van der Eijk. On-ward obserations in neonatal intensive care: Towards safer supplemental oxygen and IV therapy : Dankelman J., prof.dr. (promotor), Simonsz H.J., prof. dr. (promotor), Smit B.J., Dr. (Copromotor) 2012 | Dissertation 
• Westebring - van der Putten, E.P. A sense of touch in Laparoscopy. Industrial Design / Mechanical Maritime and Materials Engineering | Goossens, R.H.M., prof.dr. (promotor); Dankelman, J., prof.dr. (promotor); Jakimowicz, J.J., prof.dr.(promotor) 2011 | Dissertation 
• Chmarra, M.K. TrEndo Tracking System: motion analysis in minimally invasive surgery. Mechanical Maritime and Materials Engineering | Dankelman, J., prof.dr. (promotor); Jansen, F.W., prof.dr.(promotor) 2009 | Dissertation 
• Verdaasdonk, E.E.G. Virtual reality training and equipment handling in laparoscopic surgery. Mechanical Maritime and Materials Engineering | Dankelman, J., prof.dr. (promotor) 2008 | Dissertation  
• Minekus, J.P.J.  Evaluation of the surgical process during joint replacments. Dankelman, J. prof.dr. (promotor); van der Helm, F.C.T. prof.dr. (promotor); Rozing, P.M.prof.dr.ir. (promotor); van der Werken, C. prof.dr. (promotor); Diercks, R.L., prof.dr.ir. (promotor); Heslinga, G., dr.ir. | 2004-10-05 
• Heijnsdijk, E.A.M.  Tissue manipulation in laparoscopic surgery Mechanical Maritime and Materials Engineering | Dankelman, J., prof. dr., (promotor) | 2004-01-20 | ISBN 90-6464-779-8  
• den Boer, K.T.  Surgical Task Performance - Assessment using Time-Action Analysis Mechanical Maritime and Materials Engineering | Stassen, H.G., prof.dr.ir. (promotor) | 2001-09-25 | ISBN 90-370-0189-0 
• Sjoerdsma, W.  Surgeons at work Mechanical Maritime and Materials Engineering | Grimbergen, C.A., prof. dr. ir., (promotor); Stassen, H.G., prof. dr. ir., (promotor) | 1998 | Dissertation |ISBN 90-9012069-6
• M. van der Vlugt (2006, Promotor)...P.A. Wieringa: Promotor
• E.A.M. Heijnsdijk: Instrument-tissue interaction during minimally invasive surgery.2000-2004, (Promotor).
• J.P.J. Minekus: Per-operative evaluation of shoulder and elbow replacements, 2000-2004. (Promotor)
• K.T. den Boer: Surgical task performance, assessment using time-action analysis, 1997-2001, (Toegevoegd promoter
• A.J.M. Cornelissen: Distribution and control of coronary blood flow, 1996-2001. (Toegevoegd Promoter).
• W. Sjoerdsma: Surgeons at work, time and action analysis of the laparoscopic surgical process, 1994-1998D.
• Merkus: Determinants of coronary blood flow at low coronary arterial pressure, 1994-1998 (UvA, Co-promotor).
• C.P.B. van der Ploeg: Intramyocardial blood volume and oxygen exchange, 1989-1994.

Member of PhD committees

• Participated in more than 100 PhD committees

Supervision of students

• Supervision of >300 MSc Students and 40 BSc students

Refereed  international journal articles

See PURE for overview of articles 

www.pure.tudelft.nl/portal/en/persons/j-dankelman(2b174032-a77a-4420-b7f7-d5c1ed344c53)/publications