Beyond PhD

Fear often stops us from expressing what we want: asking for a talk with our professor because we feel lost at a certain point in our research, feedback on the paper that we started, setting up regular meetings to get more guidance and discussion on our research results.

Aleksandra Vancevska, PhD is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The Francis Crick Institute in London where she is investigating DNA damage response in search of next-generation chemotherapeutics in the laboratory of Dr. Simon Boulton.

Barry Fitzgerald is a physicist, keynote speaker, author, speaker trainer, event host, and science communicator. Barry has seen the 2016 film Captain America: Civil War more than 50 times, and his superpower will remain a closely guarded secret.

Talking from her experience, Nilufar takes the PhD as a metaphor for every other experience in life.

This talk goes beyond PhD, but uses this experience to check in with ourselves how we are dealing with different situations. Circumstances, boundaries, taking responsibility, taking action. All in the process of building resilience.

Trials and errors provide feedback.

Action or inaction shape who we are becoming.

Nilufar’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilufar-bulut-331a3136/

In the ’80 s PhD was not “a thing” in the Netherlands, but in the ‘90s the Dutch government introduced new regulations on how money flows.

Meint gives a historical perspective on the arrival of integrated photonics research in Eindhoven.

And shines a light on how it was for a freshman to enter the boxing ring and find a place for himself, his group, and his research.

Years later his legacy became the reason why I came to this group to do a PhD. :)

“If you have to invent the wheel again – you will never build the car.”

Meint was always showing this picture where a little man is standing on the shoulders of a giant.

And this is how he built his research and his group.

Classical ballet, teaching ballet techniques, teaching at the university, and doing research.

That is only a fraction of Diana’s interests that she shared in this episode.

As a professor facilitating her PhD students to do research, she asks them a very important question:

“What can I do to help you?” // “What do you need from me?”

This relationship with your supervisor is a conversation, not a monologue.

Take your chance to discuss your needs.

Not only once.

During his PhD, Milos found himself in a situation where everything seemed “right” from an observer’s perspective. Nevertheless, one important aspect was missing: motivation. The lack of motivation can lead to a lack of commitment – and that is what happened in Milos’ case. Being honest with himself and the people around him, he was considered brave by his peers for taking the decision to stop the PhD halfway. The process of coming to that decision took some months and that is what he selflessly shares in this episode.

Checking in at half-time, Milos asked himself “Where do I see myself in 2 years?” As a coach of his one-man team, the conclusion was that it was time to change the strategy. This episode is about realizing the impact of your decisions – whether it is to confirm that you are on the right track or change the course, and empowering you to take the driver’s seat.

Wieteke de Boer is my current boss. :)

Her journey so far went from physics researcher to the role of managing director. Amazed by the research, but not always with the environment, she has found herself a sweet spot in academia – on the other side of research. Striving for creating a happy community at work, she shares how this journey has enrolled so far.

Julià Delos Ayllón shares how he went from Barcelona to Eindhoven to do a PhD in electrical engineering and ended up bringing a part of Catalonia to the Netherlands in order to find fulfillment. He is a research engineer who is passionate about technology, an entrepreneur interested in bringing value to the market, and a passionate kite surfer. Unfortunately, this last story did not make it to the final edit of the podcast, but if you would like to know more – ask him yourself!

In this kick-off episode Valentina Bonito shares personal stories throughout her PhD journey. The moments that made her (re)discover what she enjoys doing. As well as the moments of checking and evaluating the dreams she had before the start of the PhD.

Valentina’s education in Biomedical Engineering led her to pursue a PhD in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. After this experience, she decided to switch career and got specialized in science and technology communication, events organization and social media marketing. She worked as freelance science journalist, as a communication advisor, and as a press officer for scientific institutes and academia. Currently, she is a senior communication specialist for ASML, an innovation leader in the semiconductor industry with headquarters in the Netherlands.