Explore every episode of the podcast Radio Life Sciences

In this episode, Maria and Fabíola chat with members of the Life Sciences Representatives (LSR) and the Educational Committee for the Graduate School of Life Sciences (EC-LS), Eva Wiesner and Elfie Moesker. They share how their groups work to improve the quality of education, represent student perspectives within the GSLS, and address key issues affecting Life Sciences students. From giving feedback on courses to tackling challenges students face during their studies, our guests offer an inside look at how they help shape the learning experience at GSLS. Tune in to discover how these committees make student voices heard and why their work matters for every Life Sciences student.

In this episode Maria and Fabíola talk to Niels Vreeswijk and Sebastian Bok, who are student assessors at Utrecht University and at the UMC Utrecht, respectively. From sharing their daily activities and challenges to advocating for positive change for students, Niels and Sebastian discuss their roles at UU and UMC Utrecht and go into detail on what it means to be a student assessor. Tune in to learn more about this important student representation role within the university!

In this episode Eveline talks to Isabella Spaans. Isabella is a PhD Student at UMC Utrecht and she is about to defend her dissertation about role models.

In this episode she will tell you more about what role models actually are, why they are important and you will get to know what walking buffets and shopping for clothes have to do with role models. Also, she will reveal who her role model is!

Enjoy listening!

Two experienced teachers, Lizette Utomo and Koen Braat, developed a new course on lab calculations and made use of an innovative method: virtual reality. They tell Gisela and Maarke about their experience and how the course can bridge the gap between calculations and actual experiments in the lab.

For more information about the course, visit the OSIRIS course catalogue.

In this episode Maria and Fabíola talk to Chanel and Bianca about their experiences as international students who moved to the Netherlands for their education. From culture shocks and academic challenges to making new friends and finding a home away from home, we explore the highs and the lows of studying in a new country. Tune in to enjoy their stories and get valuable insights on things you wish you knew before coming to study in the Netherlands!

Today’s Radio Life Sciences guest is dr. Chantal Tax, associate professor at the Image Sciences institute and programme coordinator of the GSLS Medical Imaging Master’s programme. She recently won the prestigious Vidi grant and tells us all about how she prepared for the application. Furthermore, Gisela and Maarke ask her about her passion for this research field, what type of students fit the programme, and how she combines research and teaching.

In this episode Eveline talks to Chanel Sam and Wiepke Koekenberg again. Chanel is an alumnus from the GSLS Master Neuroscience & Cognition and is currently setting up her own business: I SEE YOU Baby Care.

Being an entrepreneur goes with ups and downs and in this series we follow Chanel's experiences along the road! Wiepke is part of the Centre for Entrepreneurship of Utrecht University and she also shares more about an interesting event that you as a student can go to if you are interested in becoming an entrepreneur. This will be hosted on this Friday January 31st 2025! For more information about this day, go to https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/playground and follow The Playground on Instagram @playground.uu.

Enjoy listening!

In this episode Eveline talks to Chanel Sam and Wiepke Koekenberg again. Chanel is an alumnus from the GSLS Master Neuroscience & Cognition and is currently setting up her own business. Being an entrepreneur goes with ups and downs and in this series we follow Chanel's experiences along the road! Wiepke is part of the Centre for Entrepreneurship of Utrecht University and she also shares more about an interesting event that you as a student can go to if you are interested in becoming an entrepreneur. This will be hosted on Friday January 31 (so one day instead of two as mentioned in the podcast). Enjoy listening!

In this episode Eveline talks to Chanel Sam and Wiepke Koekenberg. Chanel is an alumnus from the GSLS Master Neuroscience & Cognition and is currently setting up her own business. Being an entrepreneur goes with ups and downs and in this series we follow Chanel's experiences along the road! Wiepke is part of the Centre for Entrepreneurship of Utrecht University and she also shares more about how this centre helps students with entrepreneurial ambitions. Enjoy listening!

In this episode Eveline talks to Anouck, Bouke and Simon from the Brain Computer Interface (BCI) lab. This fascinating technique focuses on helping for example patients with locked-in syndrome to communicate with the world. In this episode we talk about what BCI's actually are and what they measure, the ethical issues they raise, and also your opportunities to join the ongoing research within this lab. Enjoy listening!

This is a slightly different episode than normal, because it was recorded live during a meeting with staff of the Education Center! In the podcast we talk about our Radio Life Sciences team and the podcast in general, some facts and figures, and we also discuss some relevant topics we could cover in the future.

In this follow-up episode on Gijs’ PhD journey, Gijs and Maarke discuss what’s going on in Gijs’ PhD life. They talk about the milestone of writing and submitting your first article, the motivation that comes from visiting conferences, the collaboration between the UMCU and RIVM, and the positive side of ever-changing plans.

In this episode of the YoUUr Career series, Tessa records a third live session with Remko and Michelle (two career officers) and Meike Hartog (a GSLS student). They talk about the final phase of Career Service/Orientation: 'Get Skilled', which is being put in practice 'live' by Meike. Enjoy listening!

In this episode of the YoUUr Career series, Tessa records a second live session with Remko and Michelle (two career officers) and Panos (a GSLS student). They talk about the results that Panos has achieved after following the advices and tips that Remko and Michele gave him some time ago. What did Panos discover after he followed a e-learning module on career topics? What did he learn about LinkedIn? Listen and learn together with him!

In today's episode, Anastasia Kurysheva talks to Aisha Pagnes - the course coordinator for the Academic Writing course from the Communication Skills Academy (Coska), and Adam Frick - one of the teachers of this course. The course is open to all Master’s students of the Graduate School of Life Sciences who works on their major research project or report for their profile. We'll discuss all ins and outs of the course, why it is important to  communicate your insights clearly and convincingly in scientific articles, and what you as a student can gain from following this course. They say the best scientists are also the best writers! 

Interested in this course? Check out the Osiris description; https://osiris-student.uu.nl/onderwijscatalogus/extern/cursus

In today's episode, Tessa Voerman talks to Dr. Sabrina Genz - an assistant professor and a coach at the Online Coaching Center (OCC) of Utrecht University. At OCC, the students can share their worries with the online coaches. Sabrina tells to our listeners what questions students have when they ask for a coaching sessions at the OCC (e.g., issues with time management). She also tells in depth about the techniques that could be useful to students to apply while they are balancing their master's or PhD programme with their personal life and other obligations they might have. 

In this episode of the YoUUr Career series Tessa hosts a live session between Remko and Michelle (two career officers) and Panos (a GSLS student). They cover different interesting topics and discussions as to how you as a student can discover what your strengths and ambitions are and how to use them to investigate your future ambitions. Moreover, via using lots of post-its, Panos visualizes all his strengths and ambitions to get to know what he would like to do after he would graduate. Listen to hear how you can investigate your own future ambitions as well!

In today's episode, Tessa Voerman and Lisa Keijzer introduce the first part of a two-part series on the topic of failure. In this episode, they speak with Dr. Annerieke Oosterwegel from the Department of Developmental Psychology at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University. Together, they explore the concept of failure and discuss how students experience failure and what techniques they can implement to help themselves reframe those experiences.

Utrecht University already has a reputation as an institution with excellent theoretical courses, but did you know you can know also dabble in hardware prototyping in Lili’s Proto Lab? This new facility within the science faculty is promoting students, teachers and researchers to adopt a DIY approach and learn new design skills. Whether you want to create a hardware solution to aid your research, create an educational model to explain a concept or simply learn some digital design skills, Lili’s Proto Lab is there to lower the threshold and accelerate you along the learning curve. In this episode, Tessa Voerman interviews Josh Hauser and Edward Paddon on all opportunities “ Lili’s Proto Lab” has to offer.

In this episode of the YoUUr Career series of the Radio Life Sciences podcast, Eveline talks to Rianne, Yvette and Litske about their careers so far and they mention much interesting information about the upcoming Life Sciences Career Week. This week is organized by the GSLS from 27th of May until 31st of May.

Have a listen and hear about examples of interesting workshops during this week! For more information and registration for the Life Sciences Career Week, have a look at this website: https://students.uu.nl/en/events/life-sciences-career-week

Tessa Voerman continues exploring various aspects of conducting research in the jungle. In this second part, she discusses fieldwork in French Guiana with Martijn Ruisbroek and Wout Damen, two students from the Environmental Biology GSLS Master’s program. They share insights into the experience of working in the jungle, preparations one should make, and the biodiversity of the region.

In today's episode, Tessa Voerman introduces a two-part series on the fascinating topic of 'Research in Jungle'. In this first part, she talks about fieldwork in Suriname with Ronja Knippers, a PhD Candidate focusing on Human-Wildlife Coexistence, and Julia Blok, a master’s student in the Ecology & Natural Resource Management track within the Environmental Biology Master’s program about their research interests and real life experiences doing their field work. They also give tips to those graduate students who are interested in doing similar research.

In today's episode, Anastasia talks to Farah Kools who is defending her PhD dissertation on translational science in April 2024. Farah's dissertation urges a reevaluation and redesign of current academic reward systems, advocating for an approach that is more aligned with the intrinsic motivations of researchers to impact patient care.

In today's episode, Lisa will be talking to Christine Fox, the course coordinator for the History of Medicine course. This course is an interdisciplinary course that is available for both GSLS and History of Philosophy Science students. We'll discuss all ins and outs of the course, why it is important to bring scientists and historians together, and what you as a student can gain from following this course. 

Interested in this course? Check out the Osiris description; https://shorturl.at/vDKQY

In this episode, the Director of Utrecht University Graduate School of Life Sciences and Degree Director Biomedical Sciences Prof. Harold van Rijen talks to Marit de Kort - Policy Officer at biomedical sciences, Shirrinka Goubitz - the Managing Director of the Graduate School of Life Sciences, and Kirsten Boersma-van Nierop, Policy Advisor of biomedical sciences. They all prepared for the audit across the last half a year, and they share the details of this process as well as the results of the accreditation visit. The episode is relevant to students, faculty staff members, and administration members of the biomedical sciences. 

In this episode, a postdoctoral researcher in the field of Higher Education Anastasia Kurysheva talks to two PhD students: Nathalie Brandenburg and Richard Horenberg. They both recently started their PhD projects at the LSER (Life Sciences Education Research) Programme of the GSLS. Richard has a medical background, and Nathalie has a biomedical background. You will learn how they switched to doing an interdisciplinary research on their edge of their disciplines and education. 

In this episode, Maarke Roelofs interviews Leanne Jager, a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry of Utrecht University and Sofie van Dorst, a GSLS master's student. Sofie completed her internship under Leanne's supervision and was among the three students who nominated Leanne for the GSLS Supervisor of the Year award, which Leanne won for the academic year 2022/2023.

During their conversation, Maarke explores the qualities that define an excellent supervisor and delves into the methods Leanne employs to train her students.

In this episode, you will hear from most of the members of Radio Life Sciences: Maarke, Lisa, Tessa, Gijs, Fabiola, and Anastasia. They sum up the results of Radio Life Sciences' broadcasts from the past year and discuss exciting plans for the new year, as well as share their personal plans.

Grab a blanket, a warm cup of coffee or tea, relax, and enjoy this final episode of 2023!

In today's episode, Maarke and Gisela talk with Marjolein Rozeboom, MSc about her writing assignment on supervision of life sciences students that she conducted under supervision of Dr. Renske de Kleijn.

Marjolein is an alumnus of one of the UU GSLS Masters' programmes -Regenerative Medicine and Technology. She works as a clinical research associate at IQVIA -  a clinical research organization. 

In this episode, a recent GSLS graduate Vera Rijks talks to a PhD candidate Anne Marieke Doornweerd and a physician and sexologist of Nederlandse Vereniging voor Seksuologie (NVVS) Peter Leusink. 

Anne Marieke investigates how the cycle and contraceptive use can affect emotion regulation and possibly lead to the depressive or anxiety symptoms often seen fluctuating throughout the cycle or with contraceptive use. 

Peter Leusink consults various groups of patients on the questions of sexuality, also under the conditions of aging, cancer and chronic illness. He also provides  education and training for GPs, specialists, and many other care providers. In 2021, he established his own company  De Seksuele Zaak.

The websites with reliable information about contraceptive methods: 

https://rutgers.nl/themas/anticonceptie/

https://www.anticonceptie.nl/ 

In today's episode, Eveline talks with Gijs Teunis about his PhD journey, which is 1 year on its way.

Gijs is an alumnus of our OneHealth Master's programme (now part of Health and Environment) and works as a PhD student at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) at the department of Bacterial Surveillance and Response. We follow Gijs on his PhD journey to see what steps he takes and what he learns from them.

Can your own background be reflected in how you approach your research questions? Why diversity among students, teachers, and other staff members is so important? Have you ever thought about how the textbooks influence your research or practice with patients? What measures are introduced to make the biomedical sciences curriculum at bachelor's and master's phases inclusive? 

In this episode, Gijs tries to find out the answers to these questions by talking to dr. Gönül Dilaver  - director of education Bachelor biomedical sciences, associate professor, principal fellow on inclusive education at Utrecht University and dr. Gisela van der Velden - assistant professor educational innovation biomedical sciences about their Platform Diversity & Inclusion at the UMC Utrecht. 

Since the release of ChatGPT in the end of 2022, universities and educators are trying to find how the rise of generative AI can be fitted in our curricula. Therefore the GSLS has initiated a  project: 'The Generative Education Initiative', chaired by assistant professor dr. Christine Fox. In this 'Our News'  episode, Harold talks to Christine together with our Health and Environment student Deepshika Sharma about the impact of generative AI and what the aims are of the 'generative education initiative' of the GSLS

In this episode Eveline talks to Franca van Heijningen who is an UU graduate and former member of our Radio Life Sciences team! Currently, Franca is a trainee at TNO and she shares her experiences with us.

TNO is an independent research organization which focuses on targeted innovation. This means that they do not develop knowledge for the sake of knowledge, but for its practical application. TNO tries to create value on a social and economic level within six different domains, such as defence and safety, healthy living and work, and high-tech industry. Look for more information about TNO on their website!

Are you curious how the selection process goes for a traineeship at TNO? And how your two years look like when you’re in a traineeship? To get to know this and other interesting experiences of Franca at her traineeship, have a listen at this episode!

In today's episode, Maarke Roelofs and Gisela van der Velden from Radio Life Sciences are talking to Tessa Voerman, who is the coordinator of our elective course Professional Identity Education. This course extends over the two years of the Master's programme and focuses on finding your own professional identity (Who am I? What do I want? What can I bring?). Knowing yourself enables you to make the most out of your study time and to prepare yourself for future career opportunities. Maarke, Gisela and Tessa explore the course and the benefits it can bring you as a student.

In today's episode, Gisela van der Velden and Maarke Roelofs of the GSLS talk to Casper Schoemaker and Corlinda Kievit about our special elective course 'Experience and Expertise'. In this course,  students with a chronic disease learn to integrate their experiential knowledge of living with a chronic physical or mental condition with their research expertise and scientific skills. And much more of course!

In today's episode, Harold van Rijen, Fleur Boelens and Kirsten Koymans look back on last year's events and education of the GSLS and look forward to the upcoming academic year and especially the Introducing Life Sciences week. If you want to know more about our events, please check the News section on the Students Site of the GSLS!

Today's episode highlights the I Art My Science project within the Graduate School of Life Science. Lisa is talking with Tania Morán Luengo and Spiros Pachis about the project. Pachis is one of the founders of this art project. Tania and Lisa joined the project later and are working on the upcoming exhibition of I Art My Science. 

In todays episode, we look into the Bioinformatics profile. Harold van Rijen is talking with Bioinformatics coordinator Bas van Breukelen, professor in Bioinformatics Berend Snel and alumni of the Bioinformatics profile Gijs Teunis. 

Harold talks to Renske de Kleijn, Rianne Bouwmeester and Lieselotte Postmes in today's episode of Our Research series. They discuss the Rubrics we use in our Research Project and Writing Assignments in the Masters of the Graduate School of Life Sciences. 

In today's episode, Giselle and Maarke are talking to Dr. Mieke Lumens and Deepshikha Sharma, both involved in the new Masters' programme Health and Environment. Dr. Lumens is the programme coordinator of this Master, and Sharma is a first year Masters' student of the new programme. 

In today's episode of the Your Career series, Eveline is talking to Heleen van Ravenswaaij. As an educational scientist at UMC Utrecht, Van Ravenswaaij did her research to the different career paths of students after they finished their studies. Within her research she also spoked to different employers in the field and found out which skills are most common/important in vacancies for graduates.

In today's episode of Our Community series, Lisa and Anastasia talk to Andrea Poorterman, a programme coordinator at Parnassos Cultuurcentrum. Our second guest is Iris Nieuwenhuizen. She works at Utrecht University for the Nationaal Programma Onderwijs (NPO), where she deals with community-building and welfare projects. She is involved in the Parnassos CultUUr Café at the Parnassos Cultuurcentrum. 

In today's episode of Our Research series, Harold is talking to Anastasia Kurysheva and Sebastian Bok. Kurysheva finished her PhD on submissions within higher education at the GSLS last year. Bok is a Masters student who give his point of view on the selection procedure at the GSLS. 

In today's episode, Harold and Maarke are talking to Suraya and Dorine about making mistakes in the lab. Suraya was Dorine's supervisor during her nine month internship. We elaborate more on Suraya's supervision style and how that impacted Dorine.

In today's episode of Our Community theme, Lisa and Harold are talking with Gijs Teunis, a PhD candidate at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) at the department of Bacterial Surveillance and Response. We follow Gijs in his journey to see what steps he takes and what he learns from them. 

In today's episode of the Your Career series, Eveline is talking to Stefan Braam. Stefan is the startup incubation lead at UtrechtInc startup incubator. UtrechtInc is the startup incubator of the University of Utrecht and the Utrecht Medical Centre.

In today's episode, Lisa and Eveline talk about the new format of Radio Life Sciences (RLS). As of today, Radio Life Sciences will have five different themes; Our Education (1), Our Research (2), Our Community (3), Your Career (4), and Our News (5). Within those five themes episodes are recorded by the different hosts of the Radio Life Sciences team.  

In today's episode, Bea talks about the General Research Profile with three guests. Our first guest is Tania Moran Luengo, policy advisor and Research Project coordinator at the Graduate School of Life Sciences. Also joining this episode is Elianne, a former student who completed this profile a few months ago and is now a Lab technician at the same lab where she ended up doing her research. Our last guest is Manuel, a Regenerative Medicine and Technology student currently following this profile. 

In today's episode, we have a conversation with a Bio Inspired Innovation Master student, Heleen van Leur. She wrote an opinion article on why the major research project should be graded pass/fail instead of numerically back in July 2022. Also, a guest at our podcast table is Dr. Renske de Kleijn, an assistant professor at UMC Utrecht. Her work focuses on conducting and supervising educational research on feedback and self-regulation in higher education.