Infrastructure and User services
As a major investment in innovative research infrastructure, the BMS Lab was launched in 2016 as a faculty-wide platform to foster excellence in technology-driven and innovative research. Its mission is to integrate the social sciences and technology. To this end, it offers more than 2,000 m² of high-quality laboratory facilities (22 laboratories), innovative research equipment (more than 1,800 measuring instruments), software development capacity, resources available for loan and integrated research platforms.
BMS Lab provides infrastructure for teaching, final-year projects, PhD programmes, staff research and (contract) research projects, and is used extensively by the BMS faculty and beyond (for example, in collaboration with hospitals). BMS Lab offers six VR laboratories, including three driving simulators, web, app and XR development facilities, data storage, eye-tracking facilities and high-quality research software. In addition, there are laboratories for, amongst other things, management studies, usability studies, physiology and neuroscience.
BMS Lab also provides advice on data management, ethics and the drafting of grant applications, particularly in the fields of innovation and technology. The Behavioural Data Science Incubator (BDSI) within the BMS Lab is a service provided by leaders in the field of data science. Backed by a substantial investment in computing power, these data scientists support everything from data collection to behavioural data analysis.
Examples/description of the type of research
In order of use: research in the fields of behavioural sciences, social sciences and management studies, health research, biomedical technology, technical medicine and computer science. In addition, industrial design, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering make use of the BMS Lab’s facilities.
One example is TIIM, a large app-based software platform designed to enable the long-term or repeated study of participants (e.g. cohort, longitudinal or experiential studies) and to offer interventions to participants/patients.
Another example is the ExperiVan, a unique mobile lab on wheels that facilitates field research involving participants recruited from the street and hard-to-reach participant groups (such as minorities or people with a low socio-economic status).
How to access the infrastructure ?
Submit your request via www.utwente.nl/bmslab/. Once a project request has been approved, users can book both laboratory facilities and equipment, as well as digital resources (e.g. licences, software), via an online booking system.
