Growing Up in Science series
Do you ever wonder about the "real stories" of your colleagues? Behind every success found on their CV are the numerous failed attempts, challenges and lessons learned that everyone encounters. Plus, all the successes that no one ever hears about. Growing Up in Science is a conversation series featuring personal narratives of becoming and being a researcher.
Maastricht Young Academy (MYA) believes that sharing these stories is important to listen, support and learn from each other. Since we initiated this local chapter of Growing Up in Science in 2020, several speakers have shared their unofficial stories and imparted some wise words of advice and encouragement to the audience.
You are invited! Read summaries of past events below and keep an eye on this page for announcements of upcoming events.
Previous events
Prof Dr Caroline van Heugten
Professor in Neuropsychology
26 September 2024
MYA organised its first Growing Up in Science (GUS) event of this academic year in collaboration with UnliMited. On 26 September, Prof. Dr. Caroline van Heugten, Professor in Neuropsychology, talked about her academic career and the challenges that came with it. It is already different to get a tenured position in academia, and to become a full professor, but if there are additional challenges, then many aspects are really not obvious. She sketched that her academic journey had not been a straight path from A to B, illustrating that career planning is in that sense not necessary and sometimes maybe even not helpful. Furthermore, she highlighted what combining positions at multiple faculties can entail. Her talk was very inspiring and insightful; it went deeper into matters that we often are not aware of.
All speakers
#18: 21 November 2024
Prof Dr Thomas Cleij, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering
#17: 26 September 2024
Prof Dr Caroline van Heugten, Professor in Neuropsychology
#16: 4 April 2024
Prof Dr Mariëlle Heijltjes, Dean of the School of Business and Economics
#15: 16 November 2023
Prof Dr Christine Neuhold, Dean of the Faculty of Arts of Social Sciences
#14: 29 June 2023
Prof Dr Bartel Van de Walle, Director of UNU-MERIT
#13: 13 April 2023
Prof Dr Jan Smits, Dean of the Faculty of Law
#12: 9 December 2022
Prof Dr Martin Paul, former President and current Rector/CEO of Ruhr-Universität Bochum
#11: 4 October 2022
Prof Dr Pamela Habibović, Rector Magnificus Maastricht University
#10: 2 June 2022
Prof Dr Bram Akkermans, Professor of Property Law
#9: 21 October 2021
Dr Aurélie Carlier, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
#8: 3 June 2021
Dr Gonny Willems, Directeur Studio Europa Maastricht
#7: 6 May 2021
Dr Daniela Trani, Policy Director
#6: 11 March 2021
Prof Dr Wei Ji Ma, Professor at New York University and founding initiator of the global Growing Up in Science initiative
#5: 25 February 2021
Dr Jamiu Busari, Associate Professor of Medical Education at Maastricht University
#4: 14 January 2021
Dr Rajat Mani Thomas, Assistant Professor at Amsterdam UMC
#3: 10 December 2020
Dr Veerle Melotte, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
#2: 19 November 2020
Dr Robert Suurmond, Assistant Professor (tenure-tracker) at the School of Business and Economics
#1: 9 October 2020
Prof Dr Rianne Letschert, President Maastricht University