Doctoral school

My name is Khadija Asafiati. Together with the Beadle's Office and the research institutes of Amsterdam UMC, I ensure that the administrative process of a PhD trajectory runs to a successful conclusion. The nicest thing about my job is to have contact with different people every day. I prefer to spend my spare time with my family, friends and relatives. I also love interior design and shopping!

My name is Bettina Batista and I have been working at the AMC Graduate School for eight years now. In these years, the Graduate School has grown into a great institute for all PhD students on both sides of the Amstel: the Amsterdam UMC Doctoral School. Besides my work I am a visual artist and I study Cultural Sciences at the Open University in Amsterdam. I also love nature, walking, watching movies and series, eating out, my children, and the beautiful city of Amsterdam.

My name is Jordi Cabanas-Danés and I work as a PhD advisor at the Doctoral School, where we advise and coach PhD candidates to achieve their goals and to overcome any barrier during their PhD tracks. What I enjoy most about my job is being able to empower researchers to find their own solutions and actions and observing how they apply those with success. I love cinema, reading and creative writing. In my free time, when I am not investing time on my hobbies, I am often hiking or going to museums.

I am Ellen Dijkstra, staff advisor at the Doctoral School. I'm working on organizing, optimizing and digitalising the work processes within the Doctoral School. In this way I contribute to convenience for the many users of those processes. I like to spend my spare time cycling or walking, preferably in combination with cultural, culinary and social activities with my family members and / or good friends.

My name is Mandy Hu and as a PhD advisor at the Doctoral School I'm doing what I really enjoy: coaching and advising PhDs, guiding their trajectory, and developing policy to improve PhD support. I love this job because I get so much energy from making a real connection and working together on awareness and self-realization. In my spare time you can find me in relaxing yoga poses, singing in the shower (or anywhere else), and jumping out of an airplane in Australia (read: loves traveling and adventure).

My name is Marjanne Meinsma. For all questions about organization, planning and administration of the PhD course program I’m here to inform you. I love solving the puzzle of scheduling all our courses and making course participants happy when they can follow a relevant and useful course. For organizational and financial reasons I sometimes have to be strict, but mostly I’m doing my best to help you following the courses if and when you like. In my spare time I’m interested in watching sports (with a preference for athletics) and meeting people by, for instance, being a host mom for international students.

My name is Alexander Meulenbelt. I take care of the adminstrative process of the PhD trajectories. Besides my work I study Methods and Techniques of Research at the Open University in Amsterdam. My hobbies are cooking, walking in nature and spending time with friends and family.

I am Janine Stolwijk, the director of the Amsterdam UMC Doctoral School. Together with the team I ensure that both PhD candidates and the PhD supervision team are maximally supported. In my opinion the Amsterdam UMC Doctoral School really is a service-providing institute. I think it's important that we are easy accessible and make sure you will receive useful advice and practical answers to your (help)question. In my spare time I can be found regularly among horses and I enjoy going out for dinner and drinking wine with friends and family.

I am Annemarie van de Woestijne. As the faculty contact person between the Dean, the Doctorate Board, the Beadle's Office and Medical Library, I am responsible for carrying out and supervising the (administrative) graduation procedure for AMC/UvA graduations. The nicest part of the job is to make sure everything goes according to the correct procedures and guidelines.