Why did you choose this programme at the time? 

During my Bachelor's Future Planet Studies, I came into contact with molecular plant biology through electives. My fascination for plants had been there since childhood, but only then did I really realise how incredibly complex and beautiful plants are. After a broad, interdisciplinary and climate-oriented education, I wanted to delve deeper into the effects of humans and climate change on nature - and on plants in particular.

Why did you choose the UvA? 

I chose the Green Life Sciences track at the UvA because of the personal and committed guidance you get as a student. During my BSc internship at the Molecular Plant Pathology group, I talked a lot with MSc students about their experiences - every single one of them was extremely enthusiastic. What also appealed to me is the broad curriculum taught by experts within their field. That makes it not only instructive, but also inspiring.

How much freedom did you have when selecting courses or projects? Are there opportunities to tailor the programme to your interests? 

The programme is incredibly well put together, so I also took all the Green Life Sciences subjects offered. At the same time, the track offers enough room to choose your own path: some fellow students took electives in programming or ecology, for instance.

How practical or theoretical is the programme? 

The programme is the ideal mix of theory and practice. The great thing is that theoretical components most probably link directly (to a certain extent) to one of your own internships, or to the research your fellow student is doing in their internship. A nice addition is the course Tools in Molecular Data Analysis, in which you gain hands-on experience in analysing complex data sets.

How would you describe the atmosphere within the programme?

The atmosphere within the programme is friendly, open and trusting between fellow students, lecturers and supervisors during your internships. There is a fine balance between group work and individual assignments, which can range from experiments to writing a grant-proposal or review.

What types of thesis or graduation projects are possible? Can you provide an example of your own project? 

Within Green Life Sciences, you will do two internships of around six months (or longer) and write a literature review. You can respond to projects proposed by PhD students, postdocs or group leaders. But there is also room to set up a research project yourself; something I did for my second internship. One of the Green Life Sciences seminars piqued my interest, which eventually led to a collaboration with a research group within Koppert (biological crop protection), Plant Cell Biology at the UvA and the same speaker, a professor at Naples University, in which we investigated the still largely unknown mechanism behind “self-DNA inhibition” in plants.

Was it easy for you to find a job after your master’s? How did you end up in your current role? 

I found a job in my field fairly soon after graduating: at a flower breeder, where I worked as a hands-on researcher with a special focus on optimisation and sustainability of floriculture. I found this vacancy through an agriculture/horticulture specialised website, but I was also invited for interviews through LinkedIn.

What advice would you give to someone considering this master’s programme? 

Green Life Sciences prepares you for a career in research, both in the academy and in industry. You can develop into a broadly educated, critical and independent scientist, with not only a solid theoretical basis, but also plenty of room for practical experience and your own initiative. Take your time to discover which subject really fascinates you and don't be afraid to choose your own path within the track. Above all, be inspired by seminars, fellow students and internships - sometimes one lecture leads to a complete research project.