Graduate School

Insight, tips and tricks from the start

The RIMLS Graduate School course “In the lead” provides new PhD candidates with insights, tips and tricks to be at the forefront of your research and training objectives. In short, PhD candidates and their needs for a successful PhD are the focus of the program i.e. PhD in the lead.
 
This workshop takes place at Soeterbeeck in Ravenstein. This historic and inspiring environment was originally a monestary of this sisters Augustinessen. Here, the PhD candidates work in small groups and explore what drives them in their research and what they need to learn to achieve their goals. What does a supervisor expect from a PhD candidate? A PhD project has highs and lows, but how will these young researchers recognize and deal with the challenges that lie ahead? They discover their talents using “Strengthsfinder” and learn how to use them.


Here are some experiences other PhD candidates had with this Introductory Course: 

• "Discussing competences and difficulties with a peer made me view these from a different angle. It also made me feel related to someone and I got to know this person on a very personal level."
• "It was good to think about what I want to achieve in my PhD and how I can use my skills to accomplish this. The course broadened my horizon and made me optimistic about my PhD."

Supervisor of the year Iris Nagtegaal

For the third time, the RIMLS PhD council organized the Supervisor election with several nominees. This year's winner is Iris Nagtegaal, theme Tumors of the digestive tract. A great tradition, because excellence is shown in many ways, and excellent supervision is something we should all strive for!

The PhD council invited PhD candidates to submit a motivation why their supervisors deserve to be elected as a superhero of the RIMLS. From these nominees, the three best-ranked supervisors were selected: Iris Nagtegaal, Joost Drenth and Marien de Jonge. Subsequently, a call was launched to vote for the favorite supervisor. Impressively, more than 400 unique votes were cast.
 
Iris Nagtegaal received an award and a hoody.
 
A few motivations why Iris became the Supervisor of the year

• She manages around 8 PhDs simultaneously
• She knows all details about each of their programs and gives good insights and tips, even though she doesn’t do bench work.
• Expects hard work and results, but also knows that rest and personal time is important.
• She comes up with the craziest ideas, like a model for tumor scatter that resembles migration patterns in birds.
• She travels to conferences all over the world, and yet still manages to come to work, never mind the jetlag. 

Personal growth and reflection

“Within sight of my PhD” is the name of our course for PhD candidates who are halfway their project. The course is focused on personal growth and allows the participants to reflect on their PhD track so far and to practice difficult situations with a professional actor. In 2019, two groups participated and were very enthusiastic about this course.

This is what they say afterwards: 

• "It was good to reflect on yourself and your current situation… And to find out what you should do to make the most out of the remaining period".
• "It was very useful and inspiring to talk to alumni and see what's possible beyond academia. These talks also taught me how important soft skill development is during your PhD. The skills you acquire now you can use for the rest of your (professional) life".

Midsummer Night Event

Almost 300 PhD candidates and postdocs from DCMN, RIHS and RIMLS enjoyed an inspiring and tasty Midsummer Night Event. Dean Jan Smit opened the event, after which Louise Lagendijk presented about “selfcare is healthcare and positive psychology”. Louise’s dream is to help as many men and women as possible to feel happy, vital and balanced from soul to cell. From her own experience as a PhD candidate, she involved the whole audience in amusing and serious exercises with the aim to reduce stress.

All participants had been asked to come up with a delicious BBQ side dish. Many enthusiastic ideas had been submitted, ranging from "beer" to more challenging suggestions. The contest was won by Yvonne Hartman, theme Vascular damage, (RIHS) and Natasja Balneger, theme Cancer development and immune defense, (RIMLS), who both suggested a mojito melon salad.


This 4th Midsummer Night Event ended with a joint barbeque (including the winning side dish!) until late at night, where the directors of the research institutes served the participants barbequed meat and vegetables.