DOCTORAL RESEARCHER
LIEN VAN PUYVELDE
Lien began her career in law enforcement in 2007, following her training at the police academy, serving as a police inspector within the intervention units of PZ Halle and PZ Ghent. After six years of frontline experience, she transitioned into the role of detective, contributing to various specialised police departments including DJSOC Terrorism, the FGP East Flanders Human Smuggling Team, and the Judicial Team of the Ghent-Centre Neighbourhood Service.
Alongside her professional duties, she pursued academic development. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Organisation and Management with a specialisation in Business and Languages – International Relations (Spanish) from Artevelde University of Applied Sciences (2022). She completed her Master’s degree in Political Science (Ghent University, 2024), specialising in International Politics.
She joins the BIGDATPOL team as a doctoral researcher, where she focuses on the implementation and development of the BIGDATPOL tool, with particular attention to its user-friendliness and operational relevance. She brings extensive experience from her career in law enforcement, which she actively applies to ensure the tool aligns with the practical needs of police services.
“Throughout my career, I experienced an evolution in crime and the demand for a more efficient and proactive use of police resources. This project offers me the opportunity to help meet that challenge by translating academic knowledge into a practical, user-friendly model that supports police work in the field. It is a chance to build a strong bridge between academia and policing, ensuring we can make a meaningful societal impact together.”
