Hi! I’m Kiki, a PhD candidate in the Department of Anesthesiology, where my research focuses on pain management through drugs and the effect of drugs on the eyes.

As chair of LAP, my mission is to help create a strong, supportive PhD community within the LUMC. Doing a PhD can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with challenges—and that’s where LAP comes in. We’re here to connect PhD candidates with each other, not only through fun and social activities, but also through informative talks and workshops that support your professional and personal development.

If you have any questions, ideas, or are in need of support, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I hope to meet you at one of our events!

Hello everyone! I am Madda, and I have recently started my PhD in the Gorter Center, department of Radiology. In my PhD project, I mainly work on the reconstruction of novel sequences of ultra-high field MRI. My goal is to get the highest resolution from a brain scan, in order to see the smallest detail of the human brain. As for my background, I am Italian, and in Italy I got my bachelor’s degree in physics, then I moved to Amsterdam to get my master’s in Biophysics and finally I landed here, in Leiden.

As the LAP Secretary, I want to support and help fellow PhD candidates. I will be the person to read and reply all your requests send to our email address, so please feel free to send any doubt, feedback or complaint you could have regarding your PhD program. Lastly, I will be sure to guarantee the right inclusion and diversity within the LUMC, to ensure that everyone is accepted and respected for who they are.

Hello! My name is Noor and I am a PhD student at the Leiden University Center for Infectious Disease (LUCID) since 2022. I am a fundamental researcher interested in parasite-host interactions and parasite glycosylation. In particular, I study human parasites causing schistosomiasis, hoping to deliver a small contribution towards understanding glycan-mediated immune responses in this poverty-related tropical disease.

Within LAP, I take on the role of treasurer. Besides, I hope to be able to represent the interests of PhD students within LUMC and to inspire PhD students to enrich their PhD trajectory with lectures, workshops and social events.

Hey everyone! My name is Ivana and I am a first-year PhD candidate at the Department of Radiology originally from Bulgaria. I work as part of an inspiring multi-center collaborative project called 'MODEM - Mechanisms of Dementia', which aims to uncover the neurobiological underpinnings of dementia. Within the 'Brain Barriers' pillar of the consortium, my PhD project aims to uncover translational biomarkers for cerebral amyloid angiopathy using a pre-clinical model of the disease and data from patients with CAA. As a general member of the LAP board, I contribute to event organization and international student representation to improve the diversity and inclusion within the LUMC. Since May 2024, I also became the PhD Confidant (vertrouwenspersoon). For this role, I draw upon insights from my undergraduate degree in Psychology and my knowledge of several different therapeutic approaches, as well as my volunteering experience with vulnerable communities. In my free time, I enjoy hiking up mountains, adventure travelling, and looking after my plants.

Hi! I am Amar, born and raised amidst the vibrant culture of Paramaribo, Suriname. Alongside being a pharmacist at the LUMC, I am deeply invested in the field of personalized medicine, focusing on Pharmacogenomics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring as a PhD candidate at the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology.

Central to my role within LAP is the goal to enhance the visibility of LAP, to ensure we are seen and recognized, thereby clearly defining who we are and what we represent as a community of PhD candidates. As a board member, I am also responsible for representing the LUMC PhD Candidates on the Boerhaave committee, focusing on our continued education across all medical and research disciplines.

Should you have any suggestions for improvement, or if there are any PhD-related issues you’d like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Hello! I'm Giovanni, a medical doctor with a passion for tropical medicine, and have recently embarked on my PhD journey at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Parasitology. My research centers around pneumococcal vaccines, focusing on the role of germinal centers in vaccine-induced immunity in high-risk populations.

Growing up in Suriname taught me that the key to solving complex problems can often be found by embracing our differences in background, culture, and ethnicity as this leads to diverse perspectives and innovative solutions. As a general board member at LAP, I aim to foster this spirit among PhD candidates, and work towards creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, while also advocating for the vital role that PhD candidates play within the LUMC.

I'm excited to connect with you at our upcoming LAP events! Feel free to reach out should you have any questions regarding your PhD journey or have any suggestions for the LAP board.

Hi everyone! My name is Yasmin, and I am a first-year PhD candidate in the department Center of Proteomics and Metabolomics. In my PhD project, I focus on intact and town-analysis of polysaccharides using mass spectrometry. I recently joined LAP as a PR representative, and I am excited to part of this motivated team. I look forward in contributing by organizing events and helping fellow PhD candidates wherever I can!

Hi everyone! My name is Jenia, and I am a first-year PhD candidate at the Division of Image Processing (LKEB). My research focuses on using medical imaging and AI to predict tumour growth in patients with vestibular schwannoma. I joined LAP as a general member to connect with like-minded people and to help fellow PhD candidates enjoy their time at LUMC in a fun way. I am taking care of the Social Safety Cake initiative, because I believe that everyone should be seen and supported. Hope to see you at upcoming events!

Hi everyone! I’m Merel, a first-year PhD candidate at the department of Infectious Diseases, with a focus on improving urinary tract infection prevention in primary care. From origin, a research technician in an immunological lab, who switched directions to Health Sciences and swore never to do a PhD. Well, here we are. Along the way, I noticed research is pretty cool, and can be exciting and fulfilling. I think the use of ‘can be’ pretty much sums it up, as a PhD is not without its challenges and academia can be though sometimes. I joined LAP because I believe it’s very important to keep talking about our experiences during our PhD journeys. I wanted to engage more in the ‘PhD life’; to provide support to other PhD students, and simply be there to listen. I’ll be involved in various activities, among which writing the newsletter. I’m excited to hop on board and connect during events!

Hi everyone! I'm Iveta and have recently joined LUMC as a PhD candidate in the Endocrinology department. I am originally from Latvia but have been living in the Netherlands for a few years now. My PhD project focuses on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and exploring whether reinstating a natural circadian rhythm for people taking synthetic glucocorticoid medication can preserve bone quality. I joined LAP because I think it is important that there is support and interest representation during the PhD process and I think it is equally important to keep discussing our experiences and try to do what we can to make the journey smooth and enjoyable. I was really happy to find that LAP has an association that does just that, and I was equally happy to be able to join as a general board member. 

Hi everyone! My name is Fieke, and I am a first-year PhD candidate in the department of Clinical Genetics. In my PhD project, I work on the implementation of a breast cancer risk prediction tool (CanRisk) for women from breast cancer families.
I joined LAP as a general member to represent the interests of PhD candidates in the LUMC. I’m excited to help other PhD candidates make the most of their time at the LUMC and to connect with all of you at our LAP events!

Hi! My name is Coen and I am a PhD student at the departments Ophthalmology, Clinical Genetics and Pathology. My research focusses on hereditary uveal melanoma and the genetic alterations in these tumors.

During my internship at the occupational health physicians of the LUMC/Leiden University I saw the challenges PhD students faced. I joined LAP because I believe that collaboration is the key to successful research and a fundamental part of an enjoyable PhD journey. The ability to connect with fellow PhD students will help foster a healthy, thriving and most of all fun academic society in the LUMC.

If you ever have any questions or wish to just talk, do not hesitate to reach out!