Why did you choose this programme at the time?

I was, and still am, extremely interested in how the brain works, both in health and disease. I was also interested in what we can do to improve the treatment of certain diseases and in understanding exactly how these therapies work in the brain.

Why did you choose the UvA?

I had a very positive experience during my Bachelor’s at the UvA. It was a welcoming environment with a great atmosphere. In addition, this Master’s, which was only offered at the UvA, was the best fit with the content of my Bachelor’s.

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

Because the Master’s consists of two substantial internships and a thesis, there is a lot of freedom to pursue your own interests. You can choose the type of research you want to do, the research group you want to join and even the country in which you complete your internship.

How practical or theoretical is the programme?

The programme is very practical, mainly because of the amount of time you spend doing internships.

How would you describe the atmosphere within the programme? Do you interact a lot with fellow students and lecturers? Are there many group assignments, or is the focus more on individual work?

The atmosphere was very good. It was a relatively small group of around 25 students. Everyone was motivated, but also supportive and sociable. During the courses, there was a lot of interaction with both fellow students and lecturers, and everyone was very approachable.

During the internships, that contact naturally became a little less frequent, as you work more independently and within your own research group.

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

There are a huge number of possibilities when it comes to internships, depending on where your interests lie. I chose to do two laboratory-based internships, in which I studied the effects of particular compounds on behaviour and/or the brain.

For my second internship, I was even able to go to Australia and spend eight months working at a university there.

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

I wanted to do a PhD, but only on a topic that genuinely interested me. A PhD requires a great deal from you, so I felt it was important to be highly motivated by the subject.

Because my final internship was abroad, I had built up less of a professional network in the Netherlands, which meant it took me a little longer to find a position that really interested me. Eventually, I found a great PhD project in which I worked, among other things, on identifying new therapies for a rare brain disorder. I found the position by keeping a close eye on academic vacancy websites.

The Master’s prepared me well for my current role. The research, writing and presentation skills I developed during the programme were particularly useful, but learning how to think critically was equally important, both during my PhD and afterwards.

After completing my PhD, I wanted a role in which the direct impact of my work was more visible. I found that first at a consultancy firm and later in my current position at VU Amsterdam.

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

Follow your interests, but also make an effort to build connections. In the end, people are often more likely to offer internships or jobs to people they know, or whose way of working they are already familiar with. Building a strong network can therefore help you enormously.