Workshop 2: Speed-dating

Policy

Nora Assendorp | Education Policy Advisor at Utrecht University

Nora Assendorp pursued the Neuroscience & Cognition master’s program at Utrecht University (UU), completing internships at:

• Hoogenraad Lab (UU), where she investigated the organization of the pre-synaptic active zone in cellular neuroscience.
  
  
• Triller/Charrier Lab (IBENS, Paris), studying the duplication of SRGAP2A and its role in the emergence of human-specific synaptic features.
  
  
• Max Planck Institute of Psycholinguistics (Nijmegen), where her literature thesis explored the molecular evolution of vocal learning in the context of language development.

She earned her PhD in molecular neuroscience at the Charrier Lab (IBENS, Paris), focusing on the regulation of neuronal and synaptic development by Catenin-delta 2.

Nora: ‘I have always been deeply fascinated by the evolution of the human brain, which shaped my choice of internships and ultimately led me to pursue a PhD. However, I later realized that this path alone didn’t provide the sense of fulfillment I was seeking. After completing my PhD, I began looking for work that was still analytical and project-oriented but involved shorter timeframes and had a more direct impact on others. I found exactly that in my role as an education policy advisor at the university.’

Science Communication

Nienke Prins | Science Communication at Leiden University

Nienke Prins completed a double specialization in MSc Evolutionary Biology & Science Communication at Leiden University last August. During her studies, she gained hands-on experience through several internships:

• Internship 1: Investigating species replacement between two hybridizing species of crested newts, where she discovered that part of the hybrid zone had shifted, indicating that one species was locally replacing the other.
• Internship 2: Setting up an online survey to assess the impact of fish, amphibian, and water plant translocations by Dutch garden pond owners, which can contribute to the spread of pathogens and invasive species.
• Internship 3: Overseeing the organization of the annual Week of Biology, a prominent event featuring biology-themed activities hosted by the Dutch Institute for Biology.

Currently, Nienke is managing a project for the Dutch Institute for Biology, though she is preparing for her upcoming move to Australia in February for a year.

Nienke: ‘Hi, I’m Nienke! I’m an enthusiastic biologist who would happily live off sunlight like a plant (I’m hopeless at deciding what to eat!). I love reading and traveling. For my MSc, I chose the evolutionary biology research specialization and paired it with an extra year of science communication training. I ventured into science communication because I wasn’t sure which career path to take, but I saw great potential in this field and what it has to offer.’

Research in academia

Rianne Kluck | PhD-candiate Experimental & Computational Plant Development

Rianne Kluck completed her MSc in Plant Biotechnology at Wageningen University, focusing on plant resilience and development through research and analysis:

• Internship at Utrecht University: Conducted an analysis of multi-species flooding stress RNA-seq data.
• Master’s Thesis: Investigated the effects of salt stress on tomato root architecture.

Currently, Rianne is pursuing her PhD in Experimental & Computational Plant Development, where she studies the development, regulation, and evolution of the exodermis.

Rianne: ‘I’ve always been fascinated by the world around me, and biology has been my way of making sense of it all. Plants captivated me from the start—they provide us with food and oxygen, shaping our existence and progress. My passion for research made pursuing a PhD a natural step after my studies. Outside of science, I enjoy hiking, photography, TTRPGs, and reading.’

Luuk Stringer | PhD-candidate Organometallic Catalysis at Utrecht University

Luuk Stringer has completed his MSc Chemistry at Leiden University, focusing on energy, sustainability, and catalysis. 

Internships:

• Developed an earth-abundant metal-based system for hydrogen production on liposomes using light as an energy source.
• Gained experience in coordination chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, NMR, DLS, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and photoredox catalysis.
• Developed Python-based applications for rapid data processing.

Current Position:

• PhD Candidate in Organometallic Catalysis at Utrecht University, working on advancing sustainable energy solutions.

Research in industry

Marieke Beemsterboer | Scientist II Symeres

Marieke Beemsterboer completed her Master’s in Drug Discovery & Safety (specialization in Drug Design & Synthesis) at VU Amsterdam, where she gained hands-on experience through:

• University Internship: Medicinal Chemistry Group (VU Amsterdam), focusing on the synthesis of novel cyclobutyl-containing fragments.
• Industry Internship: Mercachem (now Symeres), working on the synthesis of novel 3D scaffolds.

Marieke: ‘I am Marieke, 30 years old and have been working at Symeres for 5 years. When I completed my internship at university, I felt continuing into a PhD was not for me. To see what the industry was like, I completed an internship at Mercachem (now Symeres). I had a great experience and got a job there. Each day I am still in the lab, working on the synthesis of novel compounds for drug discovery.

Internship abroad

Raishna Biharie | Master's Student Health & Environment

Raishna Biharie is currently completing her Master’s in Health & Environment at Utrecht University, exploring different fields within toxicology and environmental health through diverse research experiences:

• Internship Abroad (Costa Rica): Conducted a toxicological risk assessment of pyrethroid (pesticide) exposure in (pregnant) women and their children.
• Exposure/Occupational Hygiene: Completed an internship to further explore alternative research areas outside of the lab.
• Current Writing Assignment: Investigating the exposure risk of Lyme disease across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Raishna: ‘At the start of my Master’s, I was particularly interested in toxicology, but I discovered lab work wasn’t for me. My internship in Costa Rica allowed allowed me to travel more and get to know a different culture/work environment which was a great experience! Currently, I’m combining all my interests in One Health research, focusing on Lyme disease exposure risks. I hope to pursue a career in this field after my studies. If you’d like to hear more about my experiences abroad or have other questions, feel free to reach out!’

Science Education

Linde van der Werf | Master’s Student Science Education and Communication

Linde van der Werf is pursuing her Master’s in Science Education and Communication (Teacher Track, U-TEAch), gaining valuable experience in teaching and educational research:

• Current Internship: Teaching IB Integrated Science and Higher Level Biology at the International School Utrecht.
• Previous Research: Developed a questionnaire focused on education for sustainable development.
• Upcoming Internship: Moving to St. Maarten for a 3.5-month teaching internship.

Linde: ‘I’m 23 and almost done with my master’s. After looking into different career paths like ecological research and policymaking, I found that education was really the right fit for me. Along with getting my teaching degree, I’ve also worked on research and development courses. The SEC master’s program has really been great for combining the education, communication, and research fields, allowing me to build a really broad set of skills for my future career.’