Why did you choose this programme at the time? Why did you choose the UvA?

During my Bachelor’s in Psychobiology, I gained a broad understanding of neurobiology. For my Master’s, I wanted to focus more specifically on the area that interested me most: what happens in the brain during neurodegenerative disease?

The PPP track within Neurobiology seemed to offer a good balance between molecular and translational research. We explored the brain at the molecular level, while never losing sight of the wider relevance and potential impact of what we were learning. I was also particularly attracted by the small group size, the wide range of elective courses and the many guest lecturers.

How much freedom did you have in choosing courses or projects? Are there opportunities to tailor the programme to your own interests?

Alongside the core courses, there was a wide range of electives, which allowed you to shape the programme to suit your own interests. A large part of the programme also consisted of internships and literature reviews. I extended my internships so that I could learn the techniques I was most interested in, which allowed me to get exactly what I needed from the programme.

How practical or theoretical is the programme?

I found the programme offered a good balance between theory and practice. During my internships, I was really able to put into practice what I had learnt in the courses.

How would you describe the atmosphere within the programme? Did you have much contact with fellow students and lecturers? Was there a lot of group work, or was the focus mainly on individual work?

We had a really great group. During the courses we took together, we helped each other study, and it was valuable to be able to share our experiences from our internships with one another.

What kinds of thesis or graduation projects are possible? Can you give an example from your own experience?

There are many possibilities. I was particularly interested in the lectures on multiple sclerosis and research using human brain tissue, so I actively looked for an internship where I could study MS in human tissue. That led me to my first internship at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN). This was where I really learnt my way around a research lab. During the internship, I studied microglial clusters in human normal-appearing white matter.

For my second internship, I wanted to gain experience with animal models in MS research, so I went to the University of Cambridge. There, I explored cellular metabolism in more depth and gained an understanding of what it was like to conduct research in a different environment.

I really enjoyed being able to put what I had learnt in theory into practice. Looking back, the freedom to explore different research methods and the opportunity to experience different research environments were extremely valuable. They not only helped me develop my scientific skills, but also helped me discover what type of research suited me best.

Was it easy to find a job after your Master’s? How did you find your current position?

I was fortunate that, around the time I submitted the final report for my last internship, a PhD position became available in the group where I had completed my first Master’s internship. I applied and was offered the position. This meant I was able to continue and complete the project I had started as a Master’s student during my PhD, which gave me a flying start to my doctoral research.

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

If you are excited by the idea of unravelling how the brain works and want to understand what happens in the brain during disease, I would definitely recommend this Master’s. Along the way, I discovered where my own interests lay, partly thanks to the variety of lectures and guest speakers. There is plenty of flexibility to shape the programme around your own interests, and you meet many interesting people in a supportive environment.