Home town: Geleen, the Netherlands
College: Leiden University (Undergrad), Utrecht University (Medical school)
Research: Evaluate the role of CD4 T cells in anti-tumor immunity
Career Goals: I see myself working more in industry than an academic lab (because I don't want to start my own lab). I guess I could work as a senior scientist!
Hobbies: I love hiking/camping. I can also be completely happy reading a great book or watching shows/movies (especially Christmas movies but don't tell anyone)/sports events
Why Duke: When I was applying to graduate school, I initially decided that Duke was the best spot for me because the academic opportunities were amazing. However, since most of the schools I applied to had similar opportunities, I eventually choose Duke because of the location and the people in the programs. For every other place I interviewed, I was thinking of trips I could take. However, here at Duke I was considering trips I could take with other people. The sense of community was very important to me because I am an international student and don't have any family in the area.
Why Durham: I really liked the feel of Durham because it wasn't a big city. When I was making my decision, I was living in Los Angeles and I quickly realized that the big city life wasn't for me! Durham was much quieter but still large enough that one will never get bored. I love the fact that we are within driving distance of both the mountains and the beach, and that a one-day trip is definitely a possibility!