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Programme Regional Heat
Utrecht University
February 11 and 18, 2016
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Table of Content
4 About FameLab
6 Programme
7 Moderator
7 Jury Members
9 Contestants Feb 11
18 Contestants Feb 18
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About FameLab
FameLab aims to discover charismatic, up-and-coming scientists who inspire people to
see the world from a new perspective… in just three minutes! Since its birth at the
Cheltenham Science Festival in 2005, FameLab has grown into arguably the world’s
leading science communication competition. A partnership with the British Council since
2007 has seen the competition go global with more than 5000 young scientists and
engineers participating in over 27 different countries.
Communicating science accessibly and attractively is an ever-growing priority for
researchers worldwide. FameLab helps young scientists acquire valuable skills to
communicate their work to non-scientific audiences. By doing so, researchers not only
challenge common stereotypes of scientists, but also help to justify public funding for
their research.
FameLab Netherlands 2016
FameLab Netherlands is organised by the British Council in partnership with its national
partners: KNAW, NTR and VSNU.
The regional heats in the Netherlands are organised by: University of Groningen /
Science LinX, Leiden University, Radboud University / Radboud UMC, Wageningen
University and Research Centre, Utrecht University, and University of Amsterdam in
cooperation with VU University in Amsterdam.
Heats
During six heats throughout the Netherlands, young scientists will have the opportunity
to share their passion for science. The 12 winners of the regional heats (two per heat) will
go through to the Masterclass and the National Final.
Heats @ Utrecht
This is the first year Utrecht participates in the FameLab competition. Originated within
the Graduate School of Life Sciences1, young researchers were invited to participate. In
total 24 PhD’s and postdocs will compete during two regional heats. Each heat will have
one winner who will represent Utrecht University in the National Final. To be fully
prepared the winners of the regional heats will receive extra training in the FameLab
Masterclass.
Besides FameLab, three additional events are organized on which participants are asked
to present their pitch (not obligatory!).
- April 3, 2016: Culturele Zondag ‘Science in the City’
- May 21, 2016: 100th
anniversary of the Hubrecht Institute
- May 23, 2016: Studium Generale Science Café with prof. Hans Clevers
Masterclass
The FameLab Masterclass in Media and Science Communication will be hosted by the
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). The winners of the heats will
all take part in the two-day Masterclass on 31 March and 1 April 2016.
1 In cooperation with the Hubrecht Institute and the Freudenthal Institute.
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National Final
The National Final will be held at the Academiegebouw in Utrecht on 22 April 2016. The
12 Finalists will compete against one another to see who will be crowned winner of
FameLab Netherlands 2016!
To reserve a seat at the National Final on 22 April 2016, please send an email to:
International Final
The overall winner will travel to the UK to compete in the FameLab International Final
which will be held in Cheltenham in June 2016. The International Final is co-produced by
Cheltenham Science Festivals and the British Council.
FameLab ‘rules’
The rules behind each FameLab are few, but crucial:
Each competitor has 3 minutes to present any scientific, engineering,
mathematical or medical topic of his/her choice
It is not allowed to use a PowerPoint presentation, other electronic presentation
or audio recording
Participants can only use the props that they can carry onto stage themself (there
will be no time for set up)
Contestants making it through the Heats to the National Final have to prepare a
second presentation (which can be on the same topic but must be demonstrably
different in content)
A judging panel of two judges will have up to two minutes to ask questions after each
presentation. They will determine the winners on the basis of three judging criteria:
quality of content, clarity of presentation and charisma.
Content: The content of the presentations MUST be scientifically accurate. If the
topic chosen has controversy or uncertainty around it, then the presentation must
acknowledge the opposing views. The scientific topic presented should be well
chosen to suit the audience.
Clarity: Clarity is critical for effective science communication. The structure of the
talk is important; as well as making sure the audience and judges can follow the
talk and are left with an understanding of the scientific concept chosen. The talk
should be aimed at an adult, lay audience.
Charisma: The audience and judges should be left inspired and enthused about
science. The presenter must have that hard-to-describe but unmistakable quality
of charisma. The winner will be the one who makes the science easy to listen to,
entertaining and exciting. Who is not only able to communicate the science but
who can share their passion for it.
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Programme – Regional Heat – Utrecht University
19:00h
Arrival, coffee/tea
19:30h Welcome by moderator
19:35h First round of presentations (5 min each)
20:05h Break
20:20h Second round of presentations (5 min each)
20:50h Break and Jury deliberations
21:10h Award ceremony
21:15h Drinks
22:00h End
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Moderator
Maud Radstake, PhD
Director Studium Generale
Utrecht University
Maud Radstake, PhD is fascinated by social issues regarding science,
technology, healthcare, culture and politics. She is a trained cultural
anthropologist (University of Amsterdam), and worked as a researcher and
communicator on health care, medical imaging, life sciences, public dialogue
and patient participation. As from April 2015 Maud is director of Studium
Generale at Utrecht University, where she is responsible for an
interdisciplinary programme of public meetings, lecture series, and events at
the interface of science and society.
Jury Members
Rob van Hattum
Director Science programmes VPRO
Chief Science Officer NEMO Science Center
VPRO Public broadcasting / NEMO Science Center
Van Hattum is passionate about science, however not trained as a scientist.
He sees himself as a philosopher trying to unravel and understand how the
world works. It is no wonder he is producing radio- and television
programmes about science for over 30 years. For two decades Rob has been
editor in chief and co-host for the Nationale Wetenschaps Quiz. In 2012 Rob
van Hattum was awarded NWO and KNAW’s ‘Eurekaprijs’ for all his
achievements.
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Jury Members
Maaike Ressing, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Molecular Cell Biology
Leiden University Medical Center
Maaike Ressing studied Biomedical Sciences at Leiden University. For her
research on vaccination against human papillomavirus-induced cervical
cancer Maaike received her PhD degree in 1998. She worked as a post-
doctoral researcher first at the RIVM and later in the LUMC. In this period, she
initiated her current line of research focusing on the fascinating interactions
between viruses and the host’s immune system, in particular how the human
herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus can escape from immune elimination and
persist for life.
From 2009 until 2013, she was appointed at the UMC Utrecht. Since May
2013, she holds a position as associate professor at the department of
Molecular Cell Biology in the LUMC, where she is involved in studies on
immune regulation in viral infection, virotherapy, and autoimmunity.
Maaike received research grants from the Dutch Cancer Foundation and the
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (Vidi and Aspasia) and has
been awarded the Beijerinck Premium for Virology (KNAW).
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Contestants February 11, 2016
19:35h Janneke Peeters
19:40h Marta Reyman
19:45h Fabian Kruse
19:50h Julia Boonzaier
19:55h Manoe Janssen
20:00h Joep de Ligt
20:05h Break
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Contestants February 11, 2016
Janneke Peeters, MSc.
Molecular mechanisms underlying T cell
homeostasis in autoimmune disease
UMC Utrecht
My name is Janneke Peeters and I am 27 years old. I was born in Lelystad were I
went to primary school and high school. In 2007 I moved to Utrecht to study
Biomedical Sciences at the Utrecht University. After finishing my Bachelor study I
started with the master Biology of Disease in 2010. During this Master study I
did a 9-month internship at the Department of Medical Microbiology at the
UMC Utrecht. Furthermore, I did an 8-month internship at the Whitehead
Institute in Cambridge (USA).
After finishing my Master’s I decided that I wanted to start a PhD track.
Therefore I participated in a competition to obtain a grant for a self-written
research proposal. My research proposal was awarded with a grant and
therefore, in 2013, I could start my PhD in the lab of Prof. Paul Coffer and Dr.
Jorg van Loosdregt. During my PhD I am studying the molecular mechanisms
underlying T cell homeostasis in autoimmune diseases.
Marta Reyman, MD
Antibiotic resistance
Utrecht University
Spaarneziekenhuis, Hoofddorp
I am a medical doctor currently obtaining my PhD in paediatric immunology and
infectious diseases. My research interests include antibiotic resistance and the
effect of antibiotics on the gut bacterial flora in new-borns. In my previous job at
the Utrecht University I helped develop the new Medicine curriculum and
worked for the EU subsidized project WATCHME which focuses on improving
the giving of feedback on the work floor using learning analytics. I have a year's
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experience working on the paediatric ward of a peripheral hospital and hope to
become a paediatrician. Throughout my career, clear communication with
colleagues, patients and students has been invaluable. In my free time I enjoy
hip-hop dancing and snowboarding.
Fabian Kruse, MSc.
Unraveling the mechanisms in heart regeneration
after injury in fish
Hubrecht Institute
Born and raised in Germany, I decided to pursue my MSc studies in the
Netherlands after studying Biology in Cologne. After completing my MSc in
“cancer genomics and developmental biology” in Utrecht I decided to stay in
academia and pursue a PhD in the group of prof. Jeroen Bakkers.
Julia Boonzaier, MSc.
Non-invasive brain stimulation to improve stroke
recovery
UMC Utrecht
I am from South Africa and I moved to Europe about 3.5 years ago. I did a
Neuroscience masters at the University of Antwerpen. After my masters I found a
PhD project at UMC Utrecht which focusses om stroke recovery and non-
invasive brain stimulation.
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Contestants February 11, 2016
Manoe Janssen, PhD
Gene repair
Utrecht University
I like research and teaching and studied Molecular Life Sciences (bachelor) and
Molecular Mechanism of Disease (Master). During my PhD I investigated the
molecular mechanisms underlying polycystic liver disease in Nijmegen. I spend
time abroad during my masters (Cambridge) and after my PhD (Leuven). Now I
am working on new treatments for a rare genetic disease called Cystinosis, at
the division of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Science at Utrecht University.
Joep de Ligt, PhD
The detection of de novo mutations in Intellectual
Disability and their relevance in diagnostics
UMC Utrecht
During my PhD I pioneered trio-based sequence analysis, now a standard in
many genomics studies, to detect de novo mutations and diagnose Mendelian
disorders. The landmark paper was published in Nature Genetics and the
subsequent clinical implementation in the prestigious NEJM, each receiving over
300 citations. I also joined the “Genome of the Netherlands” (GoNL) analysis
team, with a focus on structural variation detection. For my work on the
detection of CNVs from exome-sequencing data I established collaborations
with the Baylor College of Medicine and received a young investigator award for
best translational science from the ESHG.
As a PostDoc at the Hubrecht Institute and the UMC Utrecht I’m studying
large/structural variation, specifically in adult stem cells. This work lead to
independent and collaborative studies published in esteemed journals; Nature
Biotechnology and Cell. Within the CancerGenomiCs consortium I work in close
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collaboration with the groups of Albert Heck on proteomics and Lodewyk
Wessels on drug response data to elucidate drug resistance mechanisms in
colorectal cancer.
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Contestants February 11, 2016
20:20h Mohadeseh Haji Abdolvahab
20:25h Jennifer Jongen
20:30h Paul Ormel
20.35h Judith de Haan
20:40h Daniel Fonseca
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Contestants February 11, 2016
Mohadeseh Haji Abdolvahab, MSc.
Immunogenicity of interferon beta corresponds to
its epitopes and its aggregate contents
Utrecht University
I am Mohadeseh Haji Abdolvahab who did her master study in the field of
Microbiology at Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. After obtaining my master
degree, because I was an honours student, I was awarded a scholarship to
continue my study in abroad. I have chosen Utrecht University as it was one of
the best universities in my desired area (pharmaceutical sciences) in the world. I
came to the Netherlands and started my PhD in 2012 in the field of
pharmaceutical biotechnology. My research is on therapeutic interferon beta
and the reasons of its high immunogenicity to solve the problem and produce
de-immunized interferon beta.
Jennifer Jongen, MSc.
I am running low on oxygen; is that a bad thing!?
UMC Utrecht
Both my love for science as well as my love for medicine arose at Wageningen
University where I finished my master in both Metabolism & Nutrigenomics and
Cell biology & Immunology. I continued at Utrecht University where I studied
Selective Utrecht Medical MAster (SUMMA). Although I started this journey
wanting to become an immunologist, cancer research crossed my path. From
that point on, cancer research started to run like a common thread through my
career. Like SUMMA aims, I want to form the bridge between bench and bedside
as a clinical researcher. My research internship at Columbia University (NY) into
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pancreatic cancer made me realize that I specifically want to become a
oncologic surgeon, over a contemplative clinician. The strength of being both
clinician and researcher is in my opinion signalling problems in the clinic,
translating that into scientific research and back, resulting in translational
research. With my thesis, I want to form a sound fundamental base for
translational and clinical research during my profession as an oncologic surgeon.
This ambition resulted in a by Dutch Cancer Society granted project of 3 years
into the way in which surgery influences liver metastasis formation and tumour-
recurrence in metastatic colorectal cancer.
Paul Ormel, MSc.
Obstacles in research into psychiatric disease and
the use of recent insights into cell development and
innovative methods in cell biology to tackle these
problems
UMC Utrecht
Due to my fascination for the brain I studied psychobiology at the University of
Amsterdam. In my final year I went on exchange to Singapore where I applied
for several immunology courses, and I finished my bachelors with an internship
at the Alzheimer research center at the VUmc. I wanted to broaden my
knowledge of the human body, so I applied for the master Biomedical Sciences
in Leiden, but still with a focus on neuroscience. During research internships I
developed mutations in the Epstein-Barr virus in Heidelberg at the German
Cancer Research Center, investigated Cushing’s disease in a mouse model at the
LUMC and set-up an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) model by initiating AD in primates
at the biomedical primate center in Rijswijk. During my first year of the master
program I competed and reached the finals of the Philips Innovation Award
together with three fellow students. We defended the business plan Skinprint for
3D bioprinting skin for burn wound victims. After graduating cum laude I started
with my PhD project at the UMC Utrecht. During four years I will try to decipher
synaptic (hyper)pruning, an underlying mechanism of Schizophrenia.
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Contestants February 11, 2016
Judith de Haan, MSc.
Inflammation and scarring in the injured heart
UMC Utrecht
I studied both my bachelor and master biomedical sciences at Utrecht
University. During my masters I went abroad to New York City to do an
internship at the Albert Einstein Institute of Medicine. After I finished my master
thesis at the laboratory of Hans Clevers I started my PhD at the Experimental
Cardiology department in the UMC Utrecht. In the past year I've been working
on different projects, all touching the topic inflammation and scar formation in
different cardiac diseases. During the last few years I've been able to attend
numerous excellent international conferences and published in acknowledged
international journals.
Daniel Fonseca, MSc.
Life's vital origami
Utrecht University
My name is Daniel, I was born in Lisbon close to the sea. There I did my
academic education in in biochemistry before joining Utrecht University as a
PhD student. I was raised in a blue collared family, my parents didn’t know the
laws of Newton but they could tell the name of every tree of the region by just
looking at their leaves. My interest for science developed between occasional
encounters in the local library with the works of Feynman and Carl Sagan,
fuelled by the David Attenborough wild life documentaries. Even though I am
more grown up today the elegance of nature still fascinates me as it did the day
I understood the ties in the ocean.
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Contestants February 18, 2016
19:35h Gydo van Zundert
19:40h Mandana Arbab
19:45h Bart Driesen
19:50h Erinke van Grinsven
19:55h Carlo van Overbeek
20:00h Break
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Contestants February 18, 2016
Gydo van Zundert, PhD
Structural biology and the use of multiple data
sources to elucidate the atomic structure of
biologically relevant molecular machines
Utrecht University
I was born in Oud Gastel, 1987. After the VWO, I studied Chemistry at Utrecht
University, with an additional master in Nanomaterials. In 2011 I started my PhD
in the Computational Structural Biology group of Alexandre Bonvin, where I
worked on the integration of cryo-electron microscopy data in our in-house
macromolecular docking program HADDOCK. I graduated recently in November
2015.
Mandana Arbab, MSc.
The advent of highly specific gene editing
technologies, and using in vivo gene editing
approaches in patients to cure fatal neuromuscular
degeneration disorders
Hubrecht Institute
I'm a 5th year PhD student working at the Hubrecht Institute for developmental
biology, soon to defend my thesis in May of 2016. During my PhD I've focused
on using embryonic, and embryonic-like patient cells that I generated in the lab
to study fatal neuromuscular degeneration disorders, including ALS and spinal
muscular atrophy (SMA) disorders in infants. This allowed us to identify a yet
unknown key regulator of motor neuron disease, capable of preventing
neuromuscular degeneration.
I've spent the last ~18 months of my PhD working at Harvard Medical School in
Boston, MA where I helped to develop a novel approach to using CRISPR/Cas9
gene editing technology, for which I hold a patent. While there, I set up a project
to utilize CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to treat and cure SMA in newborn mice,
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which has never been done before. I previously received my BSc and MSc
degrees from the University of Amsterdam, during which time I did internships
at the Hubrecht Institute, the Dutch Cancer Institute (NKI), and Harvard Medical
School. I was born in LA, California and was raised in the Netherlands, and am
fluent in three languages. I am currently living in Amsterdam as I complete my
dissertation.
Bart Driesen, MD
Right ventricle fibrosis in adult patients with
congenital heart disease with pulmonary valve
stenosis and/or regurgitation
UMC Utrecht
I'm a cardiologist in training, now doing research in the field of congenital
cardiology. I'm especially interested in the effect of pulmonary valve problems
on the right cardiac chamber. With the research we are doing we hope to aid in
better treatment for adults with congenital heart disease.
Erinke van Grinsven, MSc.
Neutrophilic granulocytes are the most abundant
white blood cells, and are very important for killing
bacteria. Why do different types circulate in our
body at the same time? And how can we target the
correct cell to provide therapeutic benefit?
UMC Utrecht
Originally from Eindhoven, I studied Biomedical Sciences at Utrecht University,
with a Master in Infection & Immunity. During my studies I coached high school
students in science subjects, a job I really liked. Currently I'm a second-year PhD
in the Laboratory for Translational Immunology in the UMC Utrecht, under
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supervision of Nienke Vrisekoop. I want to stay in fundamental research, but
teaching remains one of my interests which I'd like to do on the side. I live in
Utrecht, and I'm also searching here for a place to live together with my
boyfriend. Some hobbies are field hockey, cooking/baking, and I like to go to
concerts.
Carlo van Overbeek, MSc.
Formation of nanocrystal superlattices that can
enhance computer and solar cell performance
Utrecht University
I was born in Overvecht (Utrecht) and completed both elementary and high
school (gymnasium) there. I did my bachelor's in chemistry at the Utrecht
University. In that period, I paused my studies for one year to become the
chairman of the study association for chemistry students in Utrecht (U.S.S.
Proton). For my master's studies I followed the programme Nanomaterials:
Chemistry & Physics, also at the Utrecht University. Now I am working as a PhD
student at the Condensed Matter & Interfaces group, again at the Utrecht
University, under professor Daniel Vanmaekelbergh.
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Contestants February 18, 2016
20:20h Stephanie van Straaten
20:25h Wilma Hoevenaar
20:30h Anil Kumar Deshantri
20.35h Dieudonnée van de Willige
20.40h Marjolein Mijnders
20:45h Jacopo Margutti
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Contestants February 18, 2016
Stephanie van Straaten, MD
New approach to pathophysiology of sickle cell
disease and developing a new treatment
UMC Utrecht
After graduating cum laude from the Merletcollege in Cuijk, Stephanie van
Straaten studied medicine at the University of Amsterdam. She graduated cum
laude in 2012 and worked as an MD for two years before starting her PhD-
project in 2015.
Wilma Hoevenaar, MSc.
Contribution of various levels of errors in
chromosome division to tumour development and
progression. Target for cancer therapy?
Hubrecht Institute
My name is Wilma Hoevenaar and I'm a third-year PhD student in the lab of
Geert Kops in the Hubrecht Institute in Utrecht. Although my education is mostly
in neuroscience, I now like to work on cell division errors in cancer and my
interest in biology is very broad in general. When I'm not in the lab I like to do
sports, reading and travelling.
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Contestants February 18, 2016
Anil Kumar Deshantri, MSc.
Development of Nanomedicines to target blood
cancers
UMC Utrecht
I did my MSc in microbiology from University of Rajasthan, India. I have been
working as a pharmacologist for more than seven years. Here, in UMC Utrecht, I
am working as a PhD student. My research is focused on development novel
drug careers to target haematological malignancies.
Dieudonnée van de Willige, MSc.
Transport tales: the regulation of molecular motor
proteins in brain cells
Utrecht University
I have always had the luxury issue of being interested in almost everything at the
same time. After much deliberation, I decided to pursue Chemistry
undergraduate studies (cum laude) and became interested in the question 'how
can lifeless molecules trapped in a bag - a cell - cooperate to cross the barrier
between what Biology considers to be dead and living?'. After obtaining a
Master's degree in Molecular & Cellular Life Sciences, also cum laude, I'm now a
PhD student at Utrecht University. I try to tackle this question by studying the
behaviour and contribution of individual molecules, or proteins, in what may be
the most complex cells in nature: brain cells. For the past four years, I've been
satisfying my thirst for all other topics by working as a freelance columnist, for
example by writing about the city of Utrecht for the Dutch newspaper 'De
Telegraaf' on a weekly basis. Hobby-wise, I take an interest in design and
crafting, and I love any opportunity where science, writing and design come
together.
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Contestants February 18, 2016
Marjolein Mijnders, MSc.
The folding of the cystic fibrosis causing protein
CFTR. Cystic fibrosis is the most occurring lethal
genetic disease in Caucasian population and it is
caused by misfolding of CFTR.
Utrecht University
I am Marjolein Mijnders, 25 years old and living and working in Utrecht. I did the
Chemistry bachelor and master Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences also in
Utrecht. I like to work on answering interesting (fundamental) science questions.
I also like to dance Salsa and Zouk and meet with friends.
Jacopo Margutti, MSc.
Properties of the hottest and densest matter on
earth, namely the quark gluon plasma
Utrecht University
NIKHEF
I was born in Italy, in a small village close to the lake of Como, north of Milan. I
took classical studies at high school (ancient Greek, Latin and philosophy,
mostly), which radically shaped me, and then moved to study Physics in Milan.
After my Bachelor, I did my master between Paris (Ecole Polytechnique) and
Munich (TU Muenchen). There, I met my current supervisor, Raimond Snellings
from Utrecht University, which offered me the opportunity to continue my work
in the fascinating field of the quark gluon plasma.
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