Noa van der Plas is fascinated in both biological psychology and complex behaviour. She experienced during her Master-period, that there is still very much to be discovered.
‘During my psychology bachelor at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, biological psychology was my favorite subject. I found it fascinating to learn how one’s biology influences their behaviour. On top of that, I was interested in learning more about the research methodology used in biological psychology, because I wanted to know how we are able to link biology and complex behaviour. This curiousness motivated me to enroll in the Research Master ‘Genes in Behavior and Health’. During this master, I acquired a lot of knowledge. However, it also became clear that a lot is still to be discovered! Additionally, I was able to develop many skills, including how to conduct quality research and how to analyze large datasets. While taking part in the two internships, I discovered that I enjoyed working doing research and, especially, working with large, challenging datasets. Hence, for me the most logical next step was doing a PhD, which is what I am currently doing. I feel that this master has taught me everything important I need to be an excellent researcher.’
