The A-team for PhD candidates

In September, Agnes and Alex started their ‘support squads’. “We divide the new PhD candidates into groups of eight,” Agnes explains. “In these ‘squads’, the candidates can support each other and share their ups and downs. As a PhD candidate, you encounter all sorts of things: publishing for the first time, attending a congress or having a difficult conversation with your supervisor. It really helps if you don’t have to figure everything out alone and can share your experiences with people who are at the same stage of the trajectory. Candidates currently seek support themselves, but this is often within a department where not everyone is at the same level and other interests may also come into play.” Alex: “As with the social activities, the idea behind these ‘squads’ is to strengthen the sense of community among NUTRIM PhD candidates, especially for those who are doing their PhD externally at a company and therefore have limited contact with other candidates.”

What appealed to them about this role? “I find it very valuable to be involved in the growth and development of new young researchers as a kind of mentor. That is something to be proud of, both as an institute and as a person,” Agnes says. The same goes for Alex. “It’s great to pass on what we learned during our own trajectory to the younger generation,” he says.  “Our PhD candidates are very diverse and international, which also really appealed to me. We are no longer young researchers ourselves, but we are not really among the older ones either. I still feel connected to that age group and can relate to their experiences. It’s also good for our personal development, I really enjoy doing it.”

Currently, PhD candidates with questions can contact the coordinators via email. They also plan to set up an informal walk-in hour. “PhD Track also monitors the candidates’ progress,” Alex says. “We don’t actively search within that online system, but if someone gives their progress or supervision a low score, for example, we see that as a red flag. We then send an email: we noticed you rated your progress poorly, we are here for you, feel free to contact us if you’d like to talk and we can help you.”

“Ideally, we get to know the PhD candidates before any problems arise,” Agnes says. “That’s why we try to establish contact in advance and actively attend all events. If you come to us with a serious issue and you don’t know who will be sitting across from you, that’s obviously not ideal. Another important point is that everything candidates share with us is confidential. Some might think, ‘but you are also NUTRIM researchers,’ but we are not going to run off with your story. We certainly don’t talk to a supervisor unless a candidate asks us to or gives us permission to do so. We are really here for them.”

In their spare time, both Agnes and Alex enjoy sports. “I practise Muay Thai, a Thai version of kickboxing. The difference is that in Muay Thai you can throw elbows and knees, in contrast to regular kickboxing,” Agnes explains. “I also enjoy spending time with family and friends: cooking, eating together and playing games. I have three boys at home, and I try to temper the energy levels with board games or cards, but usually we end up playing football or basketball,” she laughs. Alex enjoys lifting weights at UM Sports. “It’s a great way to clear your head after a day at work,” he says. “I also like to go outside with my two sons to play frisbee. My girlfriend and I regularly go out for dinner in Maastricht. We also love travelling: city trips and a few weeks in the south of France or Italy with the kids during summer.”

Text: Joëlle van Wissen
Photo: Ruben Beeckman

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