What do you do at VU and how long have you worked here?
I am a researcher and lecturer. I do research on the metabolism of healthy and diseased cells and try to understand how we can eliminate pathogenic cells without affecting healthy cells. The teaching I do is often related to that research. I am also the programme director of the Biomolecular Sciences master's programme and the PhD coordinator of the A-LIFE department. I started as a trainee at the VU in 2001 and I kind of consider that my starting year, although I did a postdoc in Rotterdam between 2007 and 2011 and then I was really gone. So it's officially 13 years, but it feels like 23 years to myself. And I'm still really enjoying it!
What is the best thing about working at the Faculty of Science?
The diversity of people and subjects we research and teach. So every day you learn something new or are surprised with a different point of view.
What could be improved at the faculty?
We sometimes forget to make clear who is (ultimately) responsible for what, which sometimes makes it unclear who should take action and nothing happens. In addition, we could make sharper choices about what we want to do more often. Some action items are pushed through meeting after meeting, so that already indicates that they are not really important matters.
It's almost Christmas holidays. How will you celebrate Christmas?
It will be a combination of resting, eating good food, playing (board) games and going to the cinema. Possibly we will go away for a few days, but we will decide that during the holidays.
Do you have any work tips for colleagues?
Before starting your email, start the working day by doing a task you'd like to do and really go for it (even if it's only half an hour). That way, you don't get distracted by the delusion of the day, you have actually done something you find useful at the start of the day. That gives a huge boost for the rest of the day. In my own experience, if you really do this, it can be very rewarding: It allowed me to write a good part of a scientific paper pretty quickly.
What do you recommend colleagues to do, see, read and/or listen to?
Eefje de Visser is one of my favourite artists. Her sing-songy vocal style and dreamy compositions make each of her albums a joy to listen to.
Who do you pass the baton to?
Erwin van Bentum, the very committed and tireless caretaker of O|2, who makes sure the building always looks tidy and that everything works.
Dilemmas
New Year's Eve or New Year's Day?
New Year's Eve, I'm a morning person so for me it's: pick-the-day and pick-the-new-year
Are you a beta or alpha?
Beta
What is your favourite university meal/snack?
Chips. For me, a get-together is not complete if there are no chips.
What do you think is the most beautiful building at VU?
I have warm feelings for the W&N because I worked there for a long time and I also really like my current workplace (O|2), but my favourite building is still the NU building: research, teaching, consultation and relaxation come together very nicely there and it is therefore always a vibrant building. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to watch a film or theatre performance there, but I have already taught in a cinema hall. That is really great fun to do.