Monica Altamirano

Employer: TU Delft

Global case studies
After her technical education in Nicaragua, Mónica started her first job with the Ministry of Education. This developed into an interest in both engineeringand social topics. "I wanted to continue my studies and was looking for a Master's degree programme which looks at broader social problems in combination with engineering. I found just two such programmes in the whole world which offer this, one of which was the EPA Master's degree programme. One of the great things about the EPA Master's degree was the international composition of my class; you work together with students from many different cultures."After graduating, Mónica stayed at the TP M faculty as a PhD candidate in the Energy and Industry department. She is researching how different countries organise the contracting out of construction and maintenance of roads. Little has been written on this subject, so Mónica is conducting various case studies around the world. "My EPA degree matches my current research well. I am studying both the engineering aspects of the road network and the economic and social aspects which make up the various national systems. After receiving my PhD I would like to work for the government in Nicaragua or the Netherlands and focus on formulating and implementing public policy."