I started in 2013 with the Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences Bachelor at Leiden University. During my studies, I developed a keen interest in the fundamental chemistry part of drug development. Therefore, I performed my first research internship at the LACDR department of Medicinal Chemistry. Combined with my interest in education, I continued with the Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences Master with a specialisation in education. During a nine months internship at the division of Drug Discovery & Safety, I synthesized and characterized a covalent compound as a novel molecular tool for the adenosine A1 receptor. Subsequently, I started with the ICLON Teaching Master program, which I combined with a position as a chemistry teacher in secondary education. In 2019, after obtaining my Master’s as well as my teaching qualification, I decided to continue in academic research and started my PhD at the division of Drug Discovery & Safety at Leiden University. Under the supervision of prof. dr. A.P. IJzerman and dr. D. van der Es, I will design and synthesize novel molecular tools for the transmembrane protein family of solute carriers (SLCs). With these tools, we want to gain more insight into these physiologically relevant but greatly understudied transport proteins. Besides academic research, I will take on various educational development projects within the Bachelor’s and Master’s program of Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Publications