Meet Marthe Smedinga

Marthe Smedinga

I’m working on ethical and societal questions relating to the development of synthetic cells.

Hi, my name is Marthe Smedinga and I’m joining the EVOLF consortium in the group of Dr. Lotte Asveld at the department of Ethics and Philosophy of Technology at TU Delft. I’m working on ethical and societal questions relating to the development of synthetic cells. To inform future guidelines for responsible development and use of synthetic cells, I will be gathering perspectives of researchers, policy makers, religious leaders and others.

My prior work mostly revolved around gathering perspectives of scientists, policy experts and the wider public to inform debates on desirable use of a new technology. I have worked on ethical questions arising with the use of new interventions to prevent or treat childhood obesity at the Technical University of Munich (Germany), by opening up a research data-sharing platform in Singapore at the National University of Singapore and new biomarker tests for Alzheimer’s disease at the RadboudUMC in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

When I’m not working, I love being outside. I like to go running while listening to soul or gospel music, pretending to do handywork with my children and having drinks with friends.