Madelein van Straaten is appointed as lecturer at the North-West University (NWU) from the beginning of 2022. She submitted her PhD thesis at the end of 2021 as fulfilment of the requirements of a joint degree from NWU and VU Amsterdam. The process at the VU has not been completed but the NWU confirmed that she passes her PhD degree.

While the path as an academic career was not always that clear, her passion for teaching was visible from high school. Although she did not start with mathematics as a major, she completed her BSc in Physics and Mathematics at the NWU and then decided to continue with postgraduate studies in mathematics, also at the NWU. Until this point her research was focused on linear algebra and matrix analysis and she is now also exploring related fields of research.

Madelein enjoys baking, being creative and spending time in nature.