Growing Up in Science series
Source: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/maastricht-young-academy/projects/growing-science-series Parent: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/
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.
Upcoming - Join us on the 7th of October!
Come hear the unofficial story of Prof. Dr. Kim Ragaert, full professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE).
The event will take place on the 7th of October from 16h until 17h30. Meet us at room C3.015 at Paul-Henri Spaaklaan 1.
Register for the event here !
MYA’s Growing Up in Science project is led by Janny Stapel, with the team of Katleen Gabriels and Michelle Moerel.
Do you have a suggestion for a speaker or are you curious to learn about a colleague's story? Send your suggestions to mya@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Our chapter is based on the global Growing Up in Science initiative, founded by Prof Wei Ji Ma and Prof Cristina Alberini in 2014 at New York University. Learn more about the origins of GUS or visit their YouTube channel.
Previous events
Growing Up in Science #20
Jan-Tjitte Meindersma, Vice President of Maastricht University
Growing Up in Science #19
Prof Dr Annemie Schols, Dean of FHML
Prof Dr Annemie Schols, Dean of FHML
Growing Up in Science #19
Dean of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
\ 27 March 2025
\ On Thursday 27 March, MYA organised a new GUS event with Prof. Dr. Annemie Schols, Dean of FHML. In front of an audience of students and academic staff, Prof. Schols shared insights from her remarkable career. What made her story particularly inspiring was her pioneering role as a female academic. When she became dean of FHML, she was only the second woman to hold such a position at a Faculty of Medicine in the Netherlands.
She also spoke about the challenges she faced, including the reactions she encountered when announcing her pregnancy, being told, "your career is over."
Another important topic she addressed was workplace conflict. Even when disputes are legally resolved, the emotional and social aftermath often lingers. She emphasised the need for universities to acknowledge and address this reality more proactively.
Growing Up in Science #18
Prof Dr Thomas Cleij
Prof Dr Thomas Cleij
Growing Up in Science #18
Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering
\ 21 November 2024
In November we had the pleasure of hosting the Growing Up in Science event with Professor Dr. Thomas Cleij. We enjoyed an afternoon listening to the “behind-the-scenes” journey of the Dean of FSE. Prof. Dr. Cleij shared captivating stories about his experiences living abroad, his path to becoming the Dean of FSE, and his exciting interests next to academia such as cooking or collecting art.
We are already looking forward to the next event!
Growing Up in Science #17
Prof Dr Caroline van Heugten
Prof Dr Caroline van Heugten
Growing Up in Science #17
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.
- [Growing Up in Science #20
Jan-Tjitte Meindersma, Vice President of Maastricht University](#section-ee686d56-405e-4610-88df-e853e42cff16-1 "Jan-Tjitte Meindersma, Vice President of Maastricht University") - [Growing Up in Science #19
Prof Dr Annemie Schols, Dean of FHML](#section-ee686d56-405e-4610-88df-e853e42cff16-2 "Prof Dr Annemie Schols, Dean of FHML") - [Growing Up in Science #18
Prof Dr Thomas Cleij](#section-ee686d56-405e-4610-88df-e853e42cff16-3 "Prof Dr Thomas Cleij") - [Growing Up in Science #17
Prof Dr Caroline van Heugten](#section-ee686d56-405e-4610-88df-e853e42cff16-4 "Prof Dr Caroline van Heugten ")
All speakers
#20: 03 July 2025\ Jan-Tjitte Meindersma, Vice President of Maastricht University
#19: 27 März 2025\ Prof Dr Annemie Schols, Dean of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
#18:21 November2024\ 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