Introducing Life Sciences

4-8 September 2017

Introduction week for all first year Master’s students of the Graduate School of Life Sciences

Bright minds, better future

Graduate School of Life Sciences

Welcome to Utrecht and the Graduate School of Life Sciences. The School is responsible for all educational activities for Master’s and PhD students within the field of Life Sciences. This is a broad field, with topics ranging from microbes to plants and humans, from molecules to organisms, and from individuals to populations. These topics are incorporated into the 17 Graduate School Master’s programmes.

Each month you will meet your fellow students during a Life Science seminar on one of the programme themes given by an internationally renowned scientist. These seminars are followed by a happy hour, so that students working in different buildings in the Utrecht Science Park – the Uithof – can meet each other socially.

The academic year opens with a week-long course ‘Introducing Life Sciences’ for all Graduate School Master students, regardless of their study programme. During this week, you will attend lectures given by top speakers from science and industry on themes such as professional attitude, scientific integrity, your future as a MSc, academic writing, ethics, the concepts of valorisation and cooperation with industry. One afternoon is allocated to meet the staff and fellow students of your own programme. The week ends with the Dutch Experience in Utrecht, with drinks, a dinner and a party in the evening. We hope that you will f ind ‘Introducing Life Sciences’ stimulating and make use of the opportunity to get to know the staff and your fellow students, so that you can start to build your Life Sciences network from day one.

I wish you an exciting week, starting in Utrecht’s beautiful ‘Museum Speelklok’.

Prof. Jos van StrijpChairman Executive Board of StudiesGraduate School of Life Sciences

Dear Life Sciences student,

Photo:Ed van Rijsw

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Programme overview

About the course Introducing Life SciencesThe information in this guide gives you an overview of the lectures offered for the course ‘Introducing Life Sciences’. Introducing Life Sciences is a compulsory course for all Life Sciences Master’s students. Together with 10 Life Sciences seminars this course will account for 1.5 EC.

Learning outcomes Introducing Life Sciences After the course the student:• is familiar with the organisation of the Graduate School of Life Sciences;• is capable of consciously choosing between all options offered by the Graduate School

(projects, profiles, courses and electives);• has knowledge about professional attitude, scientific integrity and ethics; • is familiar with the concepts of valorisation and cooperation with industry;• has a more detailed view on his or her future as a MSc;• is introduced into the principles of academic writing (article, grant, proposal and

for the general public);• has made a f lying start in building his or her Life Sciences network.

Learning outcomes Life Sciences seminars

At the end of the 10 seminars the student:• is acquainted with recent scientific developments in the field of Life Sciences other

than their own Master’s programme;• has a broad, interdisciplinary scientific view on the field of Life Sciences;• has learned presentation skills from top scientists;• is able to write abstracts of seminars.

MONDAY SEPT 4

TUESDAY SEPT 5**

WEDNESDAY SEPT 6

THURSDAY SEPT 7

FRIDAY SEPT 8

9.30-10.30 9.00-12.00 9.00-10.00 9.30-12.30 9.00-10.00

Registration Scientific integrity

Directing your profiles and career

Debates on Scientific integrity

Academic writing

10.30-11.45 10.20-12.30 10.15-10.45

Introduction to the Graduate School of Life Sciences

Speeddates with alumni

Scientific literacy

10.45-12.00

Keynote lecture

Lunch* Break Break Break Lunch*

12.30-13.30 13.00-14.30 13.15-14.15 13.15-15.00 13.00-18.00

Introduction to the Graduate School of Life Sciences

Scientific integrity - preparation

Going abroad Valorisation, Communicati-on & Industry workshops

Dutch Experience

Administrationoffices open

13.45-17.00 14.30-17.00 14.15-18.30 18.00-Late

Get-together with own Master’s programme

Scientific integrity - preparation

Buddy programme LSR

Drinks, Dinner, Party

* Lunch provided by the GSLS

** February students start at Tuesday Sept 5th

Museum Speelklok, Steenweg 6, UtrechtRooms for get-together will be announced

De Uithof, Hijmans van den Bergh building, Room number: 1.04, Universiteitsweg 98, UtrechtBeta: Buys Ballot building, Room number 1.84b, Princetonplein 5, Utrecht

UMC Utrecht, Green, Pink (& Yellow) Lecture Hall, Universiteitsweg 98, Utrecht Rooms for speeddates will be announced (David de Wied building and Hijmans van den Bergh building)

Educatorium Theatron, Leuvenlaan 19, Utrecht

Utrecht City Centre, exact location will be announced

Number 4, Herculesplein 281-283, Utrecht

Ruppert Wit and 040, Leuvenlaan 21, Utrecht

Photo: Ivar Pel

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Programme

MondayDuring this day the Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS) will be introduced to you. Practical educational matters within the GSLS such as procedures and forms will be explained. Besides that, people and committees that are important during your Master’s programme will introduce themselves. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to meet students and staff from your own Master’s programme.

MONDAY 4 SEPT SUBJECT SPEAKER THEME LOCATION

10.30-11.00 Welcome to Utrecht University Prof. Marijk van der WendeProfessor of Higher Education, Utrecht University

Introduction Museum Speelklok

11.00-11.15 Welcome to the GSLS Prof. Jos van StrijpChair Executive Board of Studies GSLS Faculty of Medicine, Utrecht University

Introduction Museum Speelklok

11.15-11.30 Be your own Master! Prof. Harold van RijenVice Chair Executive Board of Studies GSLS, Faculty of Medicine, Utrecht University

Introduction Museum Speelklok

11.30-11.45 Practical educational matters Shirrinka Goubitz Coordinator Life Sciences, Faculty of Science

Introduction Museum Speelklok

BREAK Lunch provided by GSLS

12.30-12.45 Academic Counsellors Pim Visscher, MScAcademic Counsellor Masters Life Sciences, Faculty of Science

Introduction Museum Speelklok

12.45-12.55 Life Sciences Representatives Marc de Liederkerke Beaufort, BScChair Life Science Representatives (LSR)

Introduction Museum Speelklok

12.55-13.10 Student's associations Jonno van Vulpen, BScPraeses Utrechtse Biologen Vereniging, Utrecht University

Introduction Museum Speelklok

13.10-13.20 U/Select Franka Rang, BScU/Select Student 2016, Utrecht University

Introduction Museum Speelklok

13.20-13.30 Qbio Can Kesmir, PhDCoordinator QBio, Faculty of Science

Introduction Museum Speelklok

BREAK

13.45-17.00 Get-together Get-together with own Master’s programme Introduction will be announced

CHAIR Gönül Dilaver, PhDDegree Coordinator Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine

MO

ND

AY

Photo: FredErnst.nl

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TUESDAY 5 SEP SUBJECT SPEAKER THEME LOCATION

09.00-09.45 Scientific insights in choices of people affecting animals

Franck Meijboon, PhDAssociate Professor Animals and Society, Veterinary Sciences, Ethics Institute, Faculty of Science

Scientific Integrity Educatorium Theatron

09.45-10.30 Integrity: on becoming a good professional

Mariëtte van den Hoven, PhD Director of Studies Ethics institute, Associate Professor Philosophy and Religious Studies, Faculty of Humanities

Scientific Integrity Educatorium Theatron

10.30-12.00 Time to prepare for Thursday’s debates

Educatorium Theatron

BREAK

13.00-14.30 Administration offices open Administration

14.30-17.00 Time to prepare for Thursday’s Debates

Scientific Integrity

CHAIR Shirrinka Goubitz, PhDDegree Coordinator Life Sciences, Faculty of Science

TUESD

AYProgramme

TuesdayImportant aspects such as ethics and prevention of fraud in science will be discussed during this day. Part of the results of the survey about Scientific Integrity, which you have filled in last week, will be presented. The other part of the day will be used for an interactive assignment about four topics on Scientific Integrity. You will work out a case on one of the four topics in smaller groups (~35). The results will be used in Scientific Integrity debates on Thursday morning.

Photo: Ivar Pel

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WEDNESDAY 6 SEP SUBJECT SPEAKER THEME LOCATION

09.00-09.30 Navigation towards personal excellence

Gönül Dilaver, PhDCoordinator Master’s Programmes Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Utrecht University

Directing your career UMC Utrecht, Green & Pink lecture hall

09.30-10.00 Directing your profiles Prof. Frank Verbeeten, MBA; Bas van Breukelen, PhD; Liesbeth de Bakker, MSc; Kirsten ten Tusscher, PhD; Marco Spruit, PhD

Directing your career UMC Utrecht, Green & Pink lecture hall

BREAK

10.20-11.40 Speeddates with alumni Alumni-1 10.20-10.40Alumni-2 10.50-11.10Alumni-3 11.20-11.40

Carreer paths from alumni rooms in Hijmans van den Bergh building (HvdB) and David de Wied (DDW).

11.40-12.30 Alumni Information market Alumni Carreer paths from alumni UMC Utrecht, Foyer 0

BREAK

13.15-13.45 Should I stay or should I go? Martijn Gloerich, PhD Assistent Professor Biomedical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine

Going abroad UMC Utrecht, Green & Pink lecture hall

13.45-14.00 Student experience in Italy Nila Servaas, MScMaster’s student Drug Innovation, Utrecht University

Going abroad UMC Utrecht, Green & Pink lecture hall

14.00-14.15 Student experience in Cameroon

Daan Laméris, BScMaster’s student Environmental Biology, Utrecht University

Going abroad UMC Utrecht, Green & Pink lecture hall

14.15- 15.00 Q&A on scientific integrity debates (optional)

Ghislaine van Thiel, PhDAssociate Professor, Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Science, Julius Centre

Scientific integrity UMC Utrecht, Pink lecture hall

14.15- 18.30 Buddy Programme LSR Buddy programme

CHAIR Gönül Dilaver, PhDDegree Coordinator Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine

Programme

WednesdayTo pursue a successful career in the Life Sciences, it is important to make good choices. After a plenary talk about Navigation Towards Personal Excellence, there are short pitches of the different Profiles that you can choose within your Master’s. A profile can replace your Minor Research Project with Theoretical Courses, in the field of Business Management, Science Communication and Education, Bioinformatics, or Complex Systems. After this, there are short parallel sessions in small groups (speed dates) with alumni. Here, you will meet alumni that have graduated from a Life Sciences Master’s or PhD programme. The alumni will tell you all about their career choices and career paths. An Associate Professor will talk about the added value of going abroad. In addition, Master’s students who went abroad for their internship will tell you about their experiences outside the Netherlands.

WED

NESD

AY

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THURSDAY 7 SEP SUBJECT THEME LOCATION

09.30-12.30uur Debates on Scientific IntegrityChaired by Mariëtte van den Hoven, PhD

Scientific Integrity group 1 09.30-10.30group 2 10.30-11.30group 3 11.30-12.30

Scientific Integrity Ruppert building Ruppert Wit

09.30-12.30uur Debates on Scientific IntegrityChaired by Ghislaine van Thiel, PhD

Scientific Integrity group 1 09.30-10.30group 2 10.30-11.30group 3 11.30-12.30

Scientific Integrity Ruppert buildingRuppert 040

BREAK

13.15-15.00 uur Entrepreneurial pathways for a Life Scientist

Stefan Braam, BBAIdeation Manager, UtrechtINC Garage

Valorisation UMC Utrecht, Yellow lecture hall

13.15-15.00 uur Academic communication, what you see is what you get

Eelco Jongenburger, MSW Eva Pantelakis, BA MAAT and careertrainers

Valorisation UMC Utrecht, Pink lecture hall

13.15-15.00 uur Life of a life scientist at Nutricia Research

Léon Knippels, PhDGroup Leader Immunology and Allergy, Nutricia Research

Valorisation UMC Utrecht, Green lecture hall

CHAIRSGönül Dilaver, PhDDegree Coordinator Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine

Programme

ThursdayThursday starts with three rounds of scientific integrity debates. In groups of 30 you will present your key findings on one of the four subjects related to Scientific Integrity. One team will present their findings on the matter (e.g. underlying problem, cause), after which the other team will present possible solutions, or the opposite site of the case, f inally leading to a debate between the groups.

Nowadays, it is becoming more and more important to develop strategic partnerships between academic, public and commercial players within research and development. During the afternoon, you will attend workshops within the theme of Valorisation & Industry.

THU

RSDAY

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FRIDAY 8 SEP SUBJECT SPEAKER THEME LOCATION

09.00-09.30 How to publish your research finding

Prof. Diederick GrobbeeProfessor of Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chief Scientific Officer Julius Clinical, Utrecht and Zeist

Academic Writing Educatorium Theatron

09.30-10.00 How to write a grant proposal Prof. Anna AkhmanovaProfessor Cell Biology, Faculty of Science

Academic Writing Educatorium Theatron

BREAK

10.15-10.45 How science really works Rinze Benedictus, MScStaff advisor, UMC Utrecht & Science in Transition, Faculty of Medicine

Scientific Literacy Educatorium Theatron

10.45-11.45 The Story of Acerta Pharma: The Company, The Molecule, The Patient

Allard Kaptein, PhD Co-founder and EVP Discovery Acerta Pharma BV

Keynote lecture Educatorium Theatron

BREAK Lunch provided by GSLS

Afternoon Dutch Expercience Student committee Introducing Life Sciences Utrecht Experience Number Four

18.00-Late Drink, Dinner and Party Utrecht Experience Number Four

CHAIRSShirrinka Goubitz, PhDDegree Coordinator Life Sciences, Faculty of Science

FRIDAY

Programme

FridayOn Friday morning, the focus will be on academic writing. Throughout your scientific career it is important to publish your research findings. Moreover, it is essential to get your research ideas funded by writing a grant proposal. The morning ends with the closing keynote lecture by Allard Kaptein, the story of Acerta Pharma: The Company, The Molecule, The Patient. After lunch, a social programme is organised by the student committee. Be prepared for the ‘Dutch Experience’, followed by drinks, dinner and a party in the evening.

Allard Kaptein, PhDAllard Kaptein is one of the founders of Acerta Pharma. This company is a leader in the field of covalent binding technology and is applying this technology to create novel, highly selective therapies for cancer. In February 2016, AstraZeneca acquired a majority share of Acerta Pharma via a USD $4 billion investment and is a committed partner to the development of these innovative drug candidates.

As Executive Vice President of Discovery, he is responsible for new targets and programs for the company. Before Acerta, Dr Kaptein led the Lead Optimization activities for the reversible BTK inhibitor program at Merck & Co. Prior to that, he led the programme on the covalent BTK inhibitor at Organon and later Schering Plough that resulted in the identification of a Preclinical Candidate now known as acalabrutinib. Kaptein joined the pharmaceutical industry in 1994 and worked in different project and line management positions at Glaxo(Wellcome), Organon, Schering Plough and MSD, on cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease and oncology.

Allard Kaptein studied Biotechnology at the Agricultural University Wageningen, and received his PhD in Biopharmaceutical Sciences at the Gaubius Institute TNO, Leiden, the Netherlands.

Prof. Anna AkhmanovaAnna Akhmanova studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Moscow State University. She received her PhD in 1997 at the University of Nijmegen. She worked as a postdoc at the Department of Microbiology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Nijmegen and at the Department of Cell Biology at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam. In 2001, she started her own research group at the Department of Cell Biology at the Erasmus Medical Centre. Since 2011, Anna Akhmanova is professor of Cell Biology at Utrecht University. She is the recipient of the ALW Vernieuwingsimpuls VIDI (2001) and VICI awards (2007), and an European Research Council (ERC) Synergy grant (2013). She is also an elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), member the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and the Chair of the Board of the Netherlands Society for Microscopy.

Speakers

Theme party

‘Colourful minds’Dress up in the colour of your master!Friday 8 September@Number Four (Stadium Galgenwaard)

18.00 - late

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Can Kesmir, PhDCan Kesmir obtained her Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark, in 1995. After her Master’s degree, she worked as a PhD candidate at the Biochemistry department of the same university. During this period she developed a close collaboration with the Theoretical Immunology group led by Prof. Rob de Boer at Utrecht University (Biology department). She received her PhD degree in 1998, followed by a short period of postdoc position in the Centre for Biological Sequence Analysis, Denmark, where she developed her expertise on bioinformatics. At Utrecht University she then started as a NWO supported postdoc in the Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics group. In 2006 she became a staff member of this group and started working as an independent Principal Investigator. Her research focuses mainly on: 1) Co-evolution of host and its pathogen; 2) Genetic associations of infectious diseases; 3) Development of immunotherapies against cancer.

Besides her busy research carrier, Can Kesmir is heavily involved in both Bachelor and Master education. She teaches several courses, participates in commissions, coordinates Computational Biology track of MCLS Master and Quantitative Biology Honours programme, and works as tutor.

Daan Laméris, BScDuring his bachelor in Biology at Utrecht University, Daan Laméris chose courses in Animal Behaviour and Ecology. At the moment he is a second-year Master’s student enrolled in the programme Environmental Biology with a specialisation in Behavioural Ecology. For his major research project he joined Project Grands Singes in Cameroon where he studied how human disturbances and conservation management affect mammal functional diversity in lowland rainforests. Currently, he is working on his minor research project. For this, he joined the CoPAN group where he trains orang-utans to work on a touchscreen after which he can test if orang-utans have an attentional bias towards emotions. If this is the case, he can try to determine what emotions draw their attention the most. Moreover, as extracurricular activity he just returned from Rwanda where he studied controllable versus uncontrollable stress in semi-habituated chimpanzees.

Eelco Jongenburger, MSWThe seemingly limitless possibilities in the imaginary world that you can find in books, films and theatre fascinated Eelco Jongenburger since childhood. Keeping this in mind while getting to know the rough side and ride of life, he decided to become a drama therapist. In drama therapy clients are playfully challenged to change their being and cope with what they cannot change. After several years of working in psychiatric hospitals and a short detour into the world of film and TV, Eelco chose to apply his expertise in the commercial and business services as a trainer. Doing so, he provided people with knowledge and skills so they could improve their performance as a sales rep, consultant, physician, manager, etc. Although this was successful, it did not always give them more pleasure and satisfaction in their work. Apparently, becoming better at work only resulted in more happiness at work in some cases. This insight called for a mission: Identify ways to help people in find back joyful engagement in work. Eelco succeeded in doing so within the work area of Occupational Health Services. As a consultant he helps people, teams and organizations with solving all kinds of employability issues. As a believer in creation he does this in a playful manner and stimulates people to rely on their imagination, creativity and self-confidence. Eelco never lost the importance of playfulness out of sight and is also still active as an improvisation-actor. He applies methods of improvisation theatre in training programs and events for all kinds of companies throughout the country.

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Eva Pentelakis, BA Eva has been an entrepreneur for six years; she teaches people to speak, sparkle and survive in front of groups. Being rather shy as a child, she knows what it takes to help people to step out of their comfort zone and present themselves authentically. She has been involved as a presentation trainer in different departments of the University of Groningen. For the last two years she trained Honours students to express themselves more as a leader. She helps candidates for Veni, Vidi and Vici grants to improve their pitch for the NWO. She does this with a lot of positive energy and with results. The power of role playing and the importance of playfulness have always inspired her to sing and do so in theatre. Through studying theatre and acting she discovered three important aspects of life itself.

1. If you can imagine it, you can become it. 2. If you let go of control, you will feel more in control. 3. Every person has a story, listen to it and learn from it.

As a training actress in companies as Enexis, Gasunie and at the UMC Groningen hospital, she plays challenging clients, patients and colleagues. At events and congresses she plays and sings back stories from the audience with a group of actors and musicians. Sharing meaningful stories with people and feeling connected gives Eva much joy. This “on the spot” way of performing stays challenging and helps her grow as a person and as a trainer. When working with Eva: Positive energy and a smile are guaranteed.

Franck Meijboom, PhDFranck Meijboom studied ethics at the Utrecht University and University of Aberdeen (UK). He is affiliated to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Ethics Institute of Utrecht University as Associate Professor and Head of the Centre for Sustainable Animal Stewardship. His fields of interest are: ethics of animal use, veterinary ethics, food ethics, and the role of public trust and debate in these domains. Additionally, he is chair and member of a number of advisory bodies and ethics committees (e.g., Royal Netherlands Veterinary Society, Netherlands Council on Animal Affairs) and he is Vice President of the European Society for Agricultural and Food Ethics.

Franka Rang, BscAfter finishing her Bachelor’s degree at University College Utrecht, Franka Rang went to explore science across the world during a gap year. She did internships in Brazil and New Zealand and then returned to Utrecht in 2015 to start the Master’s programme “Cancer and Stem Cell Biology”. During her first internship, she studied the difference in nuclear organization between pluripotent and totipotent embryonic stem cells in the group of Jop Kind at the Hubrecht Institute. As part of the U/Select honours programme, she then moved to Berlin for her second internship in the group of Ana Pombo at the MDC. There she worked on a computational project exploring large-scale chromatin architecture. At the end of 2017, Franka will return to the Kind group to perform her PhD. She plans to work as a bioinformatician on projects elucidating the mysteries of epigenetics and chromatin organization.

Ghislaine van Thiel, PhDGhislaine van Thiel obtained a Master’s degree in Health Sciences at Maastricht University in 1993. She is specialised in Medical Ethics and Philosophy of Science. Currently, she is Associate Professor at the Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care of the University Medical Centre Utrecht. Her main research topics are: ethics of drug development and end-of life decision-making. Ghislaine is a member of the Dutch Health Council and teaches Medical Ethics at the Faculty of Medicine.

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Gönül Dilaver, PhDGönül Dilaver obtained her Master’s degree in Medical Biology at the Radboud University of Nijmegen in 1999. During her Master’s training she stayed in the UK for an internship at the research and development department of Glaxo Smith Kline. After her Master’s degree, she worked as a PhD student in the lab of Prof Wieringa at the Department of Cell Biology of UMC Radboud in Nijmegen. In 2005 she obtained her PhD degree for her thesis on protein tyrosine phosphatases in cellular signaling and trafficking. During her MSc and PhD she developed a strong interest in the organisation of academic education and became member of the educational committee and the board of the student’s association of Biology. She was also actively involved in teaching students from Biomedical Sciences and Medicine. In 2005 she started working as a Programme Advisor of the Biomedical Sciences degree at the Radboud University Nijmegen. Since 2007 she is the Degree Coordinator of the Master’s programmes Biomedical Sciences (Life Sciences) at Utrecht University

Prof. Han WöstenHan Wösten studied Biology at the University of Groningen and did his PhD on fungal biology at the same university. He became assistant professor Microbial Physiology at Groningen University after post-doc positions at this university and the University of Munich. In 2001 he accepted the chair in Microbiology at Utrecht University. From 2009 to 2017 and from 2011 to 2017 Han Wösten was president of the Royal Netherlands Society for Microbiology and Head of the Biology Department of Utrecht University, respectively. At this moment he is Director Biosciences and board member of the Biology Department.

Prof. Harold van RijenHarold van Rijen studied Biology at Utrecht University and obtained his degree in 1992. He became a PhD student at the department of Physiology of the Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam, studying the biophysical properties of gap junction channels in endothelial and smooth muscle cells in the vascular wall. In 1998, he returned to Utrecht as a postdoc at the department of Medical Physiology of the University Medical Centre, investigating abnormal electrical properties of gap junction channels in the diseased heart. In 2003, he became Assistant Professor and in 2008 Associate Professor, dividing his time between medical physiology education, leading a research group on basic mechanisms of slow conduction related cardiac arrhythmias and heading the mouse phenotyping lab of the division Heart and Lungs of the University Medical Centre.

In 2006 he started with the implementation of several forms of e-learning in his own courses, such as weblectures, microlectures, formative assessments, e-modules and classroom response systems, and launched the customised e-learning platform ‘Physiopedia.nl’. Furthermore, he developed two cardiovascular course packs, entitled ‘Hart en Vaten’ and ‘Leef met je hart!’ in collaboration with the Netherlands Heart Foundation and the Junior College Utrecht for the 2-year programme ‘Nature, Life & Technology’, in secondary school (VWO & Havo).

In 2012 he was appointed ‘Professor of Innovation in Biomedical Education’ and focused on development of effective blended learning models in the biomedical curricula. In 2012 he became head of the strategic Educational IT programme ‘Onbegrensd Leren’.In June 2015, he was appointed as Director of the Master’s courses of Biomedical Sciences of the Graduate School of Life Sciences of Utrecht University and University Medical Centre Utrecht.

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Jonno van Vulpen, BScJonno is a 24-year-old Biology student, who grew up in a house in the middle of the forest. Mainly because of these surroundings he became passionate about nature and wildlife, and ended up studying Biology at Utrecht University. During his studies he became more interested in evolution and focused on Microbial Evolution and Biomimicry. While studying he was student assistant at several courses and helped develop the level-one Evolution course in the Bachelor’s programme. After organizing the Introduction for three years, he realized he was a real persons-person and someone to come to with any questions. This was one of the reasons he decided to accept the invitation to become chair of the Utrecht Biologist Association.

Prof. Jos van StrijpAfter Jos van Strijp did his PhD at Utrecht University in 1989, he worked at the lab of Ralph Steinman at Rockefeller University in New York and with Doug Golenbock at Boston University. In Utrecht van Strijp established a research group on bacterial immune evasion strategies. This group identified over 35 proteins that all contribute in bacterial survival within the host. Studies include the use of these molecules in vaccination and anti-inf lammatory therapeutics. Van Strijp is Full Professor and Head of Experimental Microbiology at UMC Utrecht. Jos is also director of the PhD programme Infection and Immunity and Chair of the Graduate School of Life Sciences.

Speakers

Léon Knippels, PhDLéon Knippels studied Biology and graduated at Utrecht University, with a MSc in Immunology and Immunotoxicology. In 1998 he received a PhD in Immunology/allergy from the same University on the development of a Brown Norway rat model to study sensitization to food proteins and mechanisms associated with immunological sensitization and clinical reactions in food allergy. He continued his research as a postdoc at TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute, Zeist (NL) and became Senior Scientist/Study Director and later Product Manager. There he supervised research projects as well as contract research for both Food and Pharma companies, in the field of immunotoxicology, immunology with a specialism in (food) allergy. In 2006 he joined Danone/Nutricia Research as a Senior Scientist Immunology and was responsible for several research projects in which food ingredients are characterized for their immunomodulating properties, with a focus on allergy. Léon is currently Group Leader Immunology & Allergy at Nutricia Research in the Netherlands and affiliate Associate Professor at the Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Utrecht University. Research within his team focuses on the immunomodulating properties of food ingredients in both pre-clinical and clinical studies.

Marc de Liedekerke Beaufort, BScMarc de Liedekerke Beaufort is currently enrolled in the Master’s programme Science and Business Management. Before starting his Master’s he obtained his Bachelor of Science at University College Utrecht, specializing in chemistry, mathematics and with a minor in economics. Due to his interest in chemistry and catalysis, he performed his Major Research Project at the Organic Chemistry and Catalysis group of Prof. Klein Gebbink.

Besides his internship and courses, Marc is also chair of the Life Science Representatives (LSR), the student body of the Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS). The LSR has been established to aid the students during their studies, for example by organizing workshops, and to improve education and organization within the GSLS.

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Martijn Gloerich, PhDMartijn Gloerich obtained his master degree in Biomedical Sciences at Utrecht University in 2005. In 2011 he received his PhD from Utrecht University for his work on the regulation of cell adhesion and polarity in the group of Hans Bos. He subsequently performed postdoctoral research with James Nelson at Stanford University (USA) to gain experience with microfabrication and bio-engineering. In 2016 Martijn returned to the Netherlands to start his own research group at the department of Molecular Cancer Research at the UMC Utrecht. Martijn’s group uses an interdisciplinary approach to understand how cellular behaviour is regulated by instructive signals from neighbouring cells.

Nila Servaas, MScNila Servaas graduated from the Master’s programme Drug Innovation in March 2017. Before starting her Master’s, she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at Utrecht University. During her Bachelor’s, she was always interested in immunology in combination with novel drug research. This is why, during her Master’s she conducted her major research project at the Laboratory for Translational Immunology (LTI) in the group of Prof. Timothy Radstake. Here, she performed research into circulating miRNAs as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for Systemic Sclerosis. For her minor research project, she got offered a position at the University of Verona. In the group of Prof. Bazzoni she focused on the characterization of long-non-coding RNAs dysregulated in monocytes of Systemic Sclerosis patients. Nila is currently working as a PhD student in the group of Prof. Radstake, (UMCU, Rheumatology) and her project evolves around the identification and study of novel molecular targets in Systemic Sclerosis.

Speakers

Mariëtte van den Hoven, PhDMariëtte van den Hoven works as Associate Professor and as Director of Studies at the Ethics Institute of Utrecht University. She works on projects in public health (obesity, immunization and nudg-ing) as well as on professional ethics and integrity.

Prof. Marijk van der WendeMarijk van der Wende is Professor of Higher Education in the Utrecht University School of Governance. Her research focuses on the impact of globalization and internationalization on higher education. She has published widely on the impact of these processes on higher education systems, institutions, curricula, and teaching and learning arrangements.She is also an affiliate Faculty and Research Associate at the Centre for Studies in Higher Education (CSHE) at the University of California, Berkeley, member of the International Advisory Board of the Centre for the Study of World Class Universities, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, of the Board of the Rathenau Institute for Science and Technology in Society, the Supervisory Board of the Open University of the Netherlands, and the Board of the Amsterdam University College Scholarship Fund (ASF).

Previously, she was Dean of Graduate Studies at Utrecht University (2015-2017), founding Dean of Amsterdam University College (2007-2014) and held full professorial positions at VU University Amsterdam (2006-2015) and the University of Twente (2001-2016). She was a visiting scholar at Harvard University (Fairbank Centre for Chinese Studies and Graduate School of Education), Boston College (Centre for International Higher Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Centre for World-Class Universities and Graduate School of Education), and the University of California Berkeley (Centre for Studies in Higher Education). She has been a chair and member of numerous national and international advisory committees and editorial boards.

Marijk holds BA degrees in teaching and pedagogy, and MA and PhD degrees in educational sciences, from the University of Amsterdam and the University of Utrecht, respectively.

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Rinze Benedicus, MScRinze Benedictus works as a staff advisor at the University Medical Centre Utrecht and he is involved in the Science in Transition initiative. Science in Transition fuels the debate about quality, reproducibility and relevance of scientific research. Benedictus was trained a biologist, and after working as a science journalist, is now active in science policy and management. At the UMC Utrecht he is developing and implementing new incentives and rewards for researchers. He is also doing PhD research about the formative effects of these new incentives and rewards at the Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, the Netherlands.

Shirrinka Goubitz, PhDShirrinka Goubitz studied Biology at Utrecht University (1990-1996), with a focus on Tropical Ecology and Sustainable Development. She participated in international projects in the Amazon as well as in the East Asian region. In this period she was active in the Biology student’s association UBV in several committees and as a mentor for first year students. In the period 1997-2001 she did her PhD research at the Department of Plant Ecology at Utrecht University in cooperation with the Hebrew University and the University of Haifa in Israel. During her PhD she developed a broad interest in the educational organisation at different universities. In 2001 she was appointed as Education Developer at the Faculty of Biology and safeguarded the development of the Biology Master’s programmes. Since 2007 she is the Policy Advisor and Degree Coordinator of the Life Sciences programmes at the Faculty of Science, Utrecht University.

Pim Visscher, MScPim Visscher obtained his Master’s degree in Sociology at the Groningen University in 2006. A decade later he was appointed by the Faculty of Science of Utrecht University as academic counsellor for the Master programs of the Graduate School of Life Sciences. The job was not new to him, as he had held the same position at the Rotterdam School of Management Erasmus University for over eight years. During his time in Rotterdam he was chair of the Dutch Association of Academic Counsellors from 2010 until 2015. Next to working as academic counsellor, Pim is Head of the Student Support Team, which is part of Student and Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Science.

Prof. Diederick Grobbee, MD, FESCRick Grobbee is founder of the Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care at the University Medical Centre Utrecht (1996) and of Julius Clinical (2008), a full service Academic Clinical Research Organization. Previous positions include Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at Erasmus University Rotterdam and visiting Associate Professor at Harvard University, Boston. He holds honorary appointments in Sydney and Kuala Lumpur. He has been a (Principal) Investigator in many large-scale epidemiologic studies and randomized intervention trials relating to the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular, cardiometabolic, and cardiorenal disease. In addition, he works on the principles and methods of treatment research, trial design and data analysis. He is listed in the top 100 global most inf luential biomedical researchers. Rick Grobbee has been on the editorial boards of several journals and (inter)national scientific, search, and site-visit committees. Current journal roles include senior consulting editor of the European Heart Journal and Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. He is president of the European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. In 2010 he was appointed distinguished University Professor of International Health Sciences and Global Health at Utrecht University. Rick Grobbee is fellow of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (KNAW), and served as the chair of its Medical Section and Advisory Council for the Medical Sciences. To date, Prof. Grobbee has authored or co-authored over 1,200 scientific papers, chapters, and books, and has supervised more than 130 PhD fellows.

Speakers Speakers

Photo: Ed van Rijsw

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Stefan Braam, BBAStefan has worked for the last f ifteen years in various markets as a digital product developer and innovation manager. He experienced how technology can make our lives ridiculously easy and that we live in exponential times in which the rate of change is unimaginably high, and continues to accelerate. Stefan is responsible for the UtrechtInc Garage, the place where people, ideas, technologies, and solutions find each other and connect. Here, you can work out and test your ideas and take all the preparatory steps to start your own business. In the Garage, we help you bring the right ambition to the right place, discover, validate, connect, and dare.

Speakers

International student population

over 42 different

nationalities

400 new students every year 20% international students

TOP 50 QS ranking

Life Sciences and Medicine

17 TWO-YEAR Research Masters

± 50% of the students conduct a research project abroad

Utrecht Summer School: 15 summer courses in Life Sciences

15 minutes by bike

20 minutes by bus

>220 professors in Life Sciences, from fun-damental and applied research to translation-

al and clinical research

Utrecht Science Park

City centre

Graduate School of Life Sciences

Master’s programmes

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Course coordinator: Gönül Dilaver, PhDEmail: g.dilaver@umcutrecht.nl

Websites: www.gsls-uu.nlwww.uu.nl/lifesciences/studyguide

Editorial staff: Utrecht University, Graduate School of Life SciencesEditors: Pauline Krijgsheld, PhD, Sanne van Vugt, MSc, Eva Herold, MScEdition: Fifth edition July 2017Lay-out: Barbara Hagoort, design & productions, UMC Utrecht

This guide has been compiled with the utmost care, but is intended for informational purposes only. No rights can be derived from its contents.

U/Select is the life sciences honours programme forselected students of the GSLS. It is a 2-year extracurricularprogramme, for excellent students who seek to broadentheir horizon and want to get more out of their Master’s programme.

The goals of U/Select are:• To broaden and deepen your study programme in

extra and special learning experiences.• To be part of a community of excellent students in

life sciences.• To be able to write a research proposal and execute

this during your minor research project abroad.• To have a better start position for your next step in

your (study) career.• To build your network beyond your own

Master’s programme.

Are you ambitious and do you seek extra challenge?

Application deadline: December 1st 2017

More information on application and admissionwww.uu.nl/lifesciences/studyguide > Honours and awards > U/Select

Boost your CV with extracurricular activities!

U/SELECTUtrecht Selective Life Sciences ExtraCurricular Track

The honours programme of the Graduate School of Life Sciences

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Number Four Herculesplein 281-283Bus stop: Stadion Galgenwaard

Number Four

UTRECHT CITY CENTRE

Museum Speelklok Steenweg 610 min walk from Utrecht Central StationBus stop: Domplein

Utrecht’s centrum voor Kunsten (UCK) Domplein 4Bus stop: Domplein or Janskerkhof

Faculty Club Achter de Dom 7

UCK

Central Station

Oudegracht

Steenweg MuseumSpeelklok

Faculty Club

UTRECHT CITY CENTRE

Hijmans van den Bergh building

David de Wied building

Educatorium Ruppert building

Bus stop Heidelberglaan

UTRECHT SCIENCE PARK

UMC Utrecht

Blue, Green, Pink, Yellow Lecture Hall

UTRECHT SCIENCE PARKFor all buildings, bus stop: Heidelberglaan

David de Wied building (DDW)Universiteitsweg 99

Educatorium Leuvenlaan 19

Ruppert buildingLeuvenlaan 21

Hijmans van den Bergh building (HvdB)Universiteitsweg 98

UMC Utrecht Universiteitsweg 100

Photo: EBU