NL
DE
Hi there, my name is Anne de Munter (33) and I am born and raised in a village called Bennekom.
Currently, as an external PhD student, I am affiliated with the Academic Workplace AMPHI Infectious Disease Control within the department of Primary and Community Care.
Next to my PhD, I am involved in the national immunization program at GGD GHOR Nederland, the umbrella organization of the GGD’en (which received a lot more fame in the Netherlands due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
Where do you live?
I live in Wijchen with my husband and our two rabbits, Achmed and Ghalib (named after our diving instructors in Egypt)
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? Can you tell us something about your child years?
Together with my best friend, at a young age we decided we would start a shop, for which he would design ‘things’ and I would sell these things to the buyers is our shop.
Even though our friendship still continues, the shop never got off the ground.
I received a Protestant Christian upbringing and as Bennekom is located near the Dutch Bible Belt, the first seeds for my the topic of my PhD were planted in my childhood.
What was your previous academic training, where did you study and why did you choose that study/those studies?
I started with Dutch Language and Culture after high school, yet, after a year I considered that me criticizing books would not provide added value to society.
With the naive notion that I had to help taking care of the world, I started at the Nursing College in Nijmegen and subsequently the Nursing Science in Utrecht.
I was already working at the GGD in Nijmegen at the department of Infectious diseases when I started to combine research with daily practice.
My research topic about the acceptance of vacination among vaccine-hesitant groups, especially among orthodox Protestants (living on the Dutch Bible Belt), gradually transferred into a PhD trajectory.
Which research discovery that you have made has made you most proud?
Recently, I published a paper about vaccine decision-making among orthodox Protestant women. In the paper we describe how these religious women make very careful decisions about vaccinations.
In contrast to what many people reckon, they do not bluntly reject vaccinations based on their religious views.
Decision-making on vaccinations among orthodox Protestants gains extra attention with the upcoming COVID-19-vaccination.
What is your most important scientific challenge in the coming 5 years?
Beside finishing my PhD, I want to continue combining research and practice in the landscape of vaccinations.
If you could choose any mentor, who would this be?
Without undermining my current mentor, Janneke Grutters, I would choose Florence Nightingale; the personification and role model of nursing science.
What is your favorite topic: molecules - patients - population?
Population, no doubt.
What should be changed / improved in the scientific community?
I think it is of great importance to translate scientific discoveries into practice. To reach this goal, as a start, all parties involved (researchers, policymakers and professionals) should listen more closely to each other and rather than focusing on their personal goals only.
Is there anything we can wake you up for in the middle of the night?
I suppose hardly anything, I really like to sleep. However, I wouldn’t say no to a beautiful scuba dive at night in tropical waters.
What is the thing that irritates you most?
People throwing trash on the streets, really, why would you do that?
Who would you like to have dinner with, if you had the chance?
Kamala Harris, although I don’t think she would have the time.
How do you relax from the demanding job being a scientist?
I have quite a lot of hobbies, but to name a few: scuba diving (nothing is as relaxing as floating in the water watching fish and listening to your own bubbles), playing music with friends, traveling, hiking, running…
Do you have a tip for our most junior scientists?
Mistakes improve your experience, and instead, you should actually start worrying when things seems to be perfect. And don't forget, be proud of the personal goals you achieve!
Please add a photo which represents a remarkable event or experience you were part of? Please explain.
I think that most remarkable events and experiences take place during traveling.
This picture of me was taken in Costa Rica last year; fantastic holiday with the most wonderful views, spotting exotic animals, watching sun rises and sun sets, camping in the middle of nowhere, eating grilled fish, drinking fresh pineapple juice – I think you get the picture 😉
