What do you do at VU and how long have you worked here?
I have been a programme coordinator in the Computer Science department since February 2021, and since February 2022 also a student advisor. Having previously worked for the HvA and UvA, I ended up at VU partly thanks to a tip-off from my twin sister who has been working at the VU's International Office for almost ten years. We do keep our working lives separate, but it's nice to have lunch together every now and then. Within the Computer Science department, I focus on the Master's programmes Bioinformatics and Systems Biology and Computer Security, each of which has its own particularities. I like the combination of my two roles because it makes for a varied set of tasks. I support the programme directors and the teaching team, but also act as the first point of contact for students. I can more or less arrange my schedule myself, alternating administrative tasks with student interviews. This certainly benefits my workplace fun and efficiency. And fortunately, there is also room for professionalisation in the form of training courses and workshops.
What is the best thing about working at the Faculty of Science?
I studied English myself (also at VU!) so it is a totally different world from what I was used to as a student, but I really like it. The lines of communication with the academic staff are short and the atmosphere is informal and no-nonsense. I also have a lot of contact with the various teams within the Science Education Office. That cooperation runs very smoothly, and that really makes a difference when solving difficult issues. I am most grateful for my own team of programme coordinators and student advisers, led by Sara Lusini.
What could be better at the faculty?
I myself have been lucky with my workspace, but around the closure of the W&N building, the lack of workspaces and meeting rooms did cause a lot of stress among colleagues from other departments within the faculty. Planning and communication could have been different in my opinion. And in general, VU could do with more low-stress rooms for students and staff. For people with disabilities, this is essential anyway, but I think everyone would benefit from being able to retreat between meetings and deadlines.
Do you have any work tips for colleagues?
A colleague had last bought table tennis bats and we used them to try out the table tennis tables on the VU square. We liked the idea of doing something active and playful during the break!
In addition, it can also be valuable to schedule coffee dates with colleagues who have completely different jobs, to get inspiration and break up the day.
What do you recommend colleagues to do, see, read and/or listen to?
I have an informal book club with some friends and one of the books we all liked was Playground by Richard Powers. His book The Overstory is one of my favourite books ever, but this new book is also very intriguing. AI also plays a big role in it, so that is extra appropriate given my own job, but a theme for everyone I think at the moment.
Furthermore, I can highly recommend the Dutch film De idylle by director Aaron Rookus. It has just premiered. I know Aaron via-via, so that makes it extra nice, but it is also just a beautiful film, which is also well received by the critics.
Who are you passing the baton to?
Junior Lecturer in Bioinformatics Josemari Urtasun Elizari.
Dilemmas:
Spring cleaning or series watching?
Series watching anyway. In terms of work, I'm pretty meticulous but all the less so in housekeeping....
Are you a beta or alpha?
I do consider myself an alpha given my background but I think my personality clicks well with betas.
What is your favourite university meal/snack?
This has been a bit trickier since a year because I had to go gluten-free; so I actually always bring my own. But before that, I would often get a focaccia from the SPAR.
What do you think is the most beautiful building at VU?
Then, like a number of predecessors in this column, I choose the NU building, where I myself work on the 12th floor. I have beautiful views and also appreciate the light and spaciousness when looking up from the ground floor. My first memory around VU is of the ‘provisorium’ an emergency building for the Psychology Department where my father (who died last year) worked at the time. I was allowed to come along to the office from time to time and first came into contact with a computer there. So I also have very fond memories of that building.