Online Alumni Perspectives January 2025
Online Alumni Perspectives January 2025

MEET OUR FPN ALUMNI

 

------------------------------------------------------------------

Anne Bach

I work as psychologist and scientist at the university clinic of Tübingen. My main role is to provide psychological support to cancer patients. This includes visiting patients in the clinic or over the phone, where we talk through their difficult circumstances. I have worked on several different stations for the last 5 years, but I have focused on the palliative station, consulting people who are terminally ill and their relatives. I am also working on a PhD in the field of psycho-oncology. My doctoral work includes the development of a group program for cancer survivors to enhance their psychological well-begin after they finished their cancer treatment. I led several of these groups already and now I am analyzing the clinical readouts.

My background in psychology and cognitive neuroscience helped me to develop the skills I need to conduct the research for my PhD thesis. Specifically, the master's taught me how to develop study designs, collect data, analyze, and interpret. An understanding of brain function is helpful in working with people who have brain tumors or other neurological impairments due to disease. Studying psychology in general gave me the tools to work with and understand people who are in difficult situations.

In my free time I enjoy being with my partner, friends, and family. I love being outside on a sunny day, no matter if it is warm or cold. My job shows me every day how important it is to live in the moment, so that's whay I am trying to do.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Eleonora Broggi
 
Eleonora is a PhD researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, having joined in October 2023 as a fully funded recipient of the NIHR Maudsley BRC studentship. Her research focuses on precision medicine for autism spectrum disorder, with a particular emphasis on identifying and validating EEG biomarkers of treatment response. By investigating the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying these biomarkers, her work aims to pave the way for their use in clinical trials, contributing to the development of innovative autism therapies.
 
Eleonora began her acedemic journey with a BSc in Biomedical Sciences from Maastricht University. Building on this solid foundation, she graduated Cum Laude from the Research Master's in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience - Drug Development & Neurohealth at the same institution. During her master's studies, Eleonora gained invaluable industry expierence as a Global Biomarker & Diagnostic Intern in the Precision Medicine department of Novartis Pharma, headquaterd in Basel, Switzerland. Her combined academic training and industry experience reflect her commitment to translating cutting-edge neuroscience into practical applications, driving meaningful advancements in healthcare.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Cristina Hidalgo
 
I studied Criminology in Sevilla, and I did a semester in Missouri (Social work and Legal Studies); then I got my master's in Legal Psychology in Maastricht in 2018.
 
I see myself a a resolutive person, but also outgoing and very dynamic. I love travelling and I have a lot of hobbies; hiking, rollerblading, dancing, reading, tennis, ceramics...
 
Even though I was aiming to work on social reinsertion, I discoverd an unexpected career path: Fraud Investigation. I found out that all my academic background, even though it seems not directly related to my expertise, is useful to develop my job: the multidisciplinary vision, research tools, analytical mind, statistics and analysis,...
 
My first job was as a Fraud Analyst in Vueling Airlines, monitoring payments to detect stolen cards, and searching for risky patterns and fraud trends.
 
Currently I am Security Document Expert in Thales DIS, controlling identity verifications for border control, police, governments, telecommunications,.. My job is to search and implement the newest security checks in all kind of identity documents, investigate counterfeit tendencies and apply document fraud prevention strategies.
 
I love my professiona and I proudly say that I am a Criminologist specialized in fraud prevention.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Romain Hollands
 
Romain Hollands was born and raised in the south of Limburg. He obtained his Research Master in Drug Development and Neurohealth at the University of Maastricht in 2018 after gaining his BSc in Psychology and Neuroscience also in Maastricht. During his internship at Hoffman -    La Roche in Basel he investigated a novel target for human autism spectrum disorder in mouse and rat models. Afterwards, he started working as a teacher and project leader at the University of Maastricht. Instead of working as a researcher himself, Romain chose to work for and with researchers. Currently he is a team lead and scientific consultant at Noldus IT.
 
Noldus IT is the world leader in scientific hard- and software solutions for behavorial (neuro)scientific research in animals and humans. Founded 35 years ago in Wagening, the Netherlands, it currently servise 10.000s of researchers in over 100 countries worldwide. In his position, Romain trains and coaches colleagues in Europe, visits research institutes throughout the world, providing insights and assistance for their current and future research needs.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Marilien Marzolla
 
Marilien Marzolla grew up in a small town in the south of the Netherlands. She completed her    BSc in Psychology at Maastricht University in 2017, where after she completed the Research Master in Neuropsychology. She did her research internship at Oxford Universitym working on neurofeedback for stroke rehabilitation at the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging. Her internship led her to a full-time research assistant position in the same research group, where she worked until 2020. She applied for PhD positions back in the Netherlands and got a job as junior researcher in the Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology Department at Maastricht University. With a new grant, she was able to turn this into a 4-year PhD position working on sensory hypersensitivity after brain injury within the Limburg Brain Injury Center. She has completed her thesis and is currently preparing for her defence, which will take place in February. Marilien in currently employed as a teacher at FPN, and is mainly involved in the neuropsychology education.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Gosia Michalowska
Neuroscientist | PhD Candidate in Medical Science, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden
 

Formerly worked at a Translational Molecular Imaging Lab at Karolinska Institute

Gosia loves being a translational researcher.      She began her journey studying psychology at Maastricht University, followed by Neuropsychology, and ultimately landed her PhD position in the fundamental neuroscience field. This transition has given her a holistic perspective, combining neuroimaging and laboratory skill to study diseases from preclinical animal models to clinical stages. 

Her research career began in Manchester, UK, where she worked as an intern on in vivo imaging of pathological ageing processes. Her project developed into a longer collaboration with the University of Manchester, leading to her first publication. Gosia then landed her first job as a Research Assistant in Nordberg Translational Molecular Imaging Lab, at Karolinska Institute, focusing on neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease.

Currently, Gosia is approaching the final year of her PhD, working in a neuroimmunology laboratory on therapeutic opportunities for ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. As she transistions to an industry career, she is developing her skills to align with her new life direction. She's also exploring an entrepreneurial route in health technology.

Gosia balances her work with going to the gym, training for half marathons, and learning Mandarin Chinese.

Connect with Gosia on LinkedIn: https://se.linkedin.com/in/mm-michalowska

------------------------------------------------------------------

Marwin Snippe
 
After completing his bachelor's degree in psychology, he earned a master's degree in social and health psychology. He later found himself at CZ, a health insurer, analysing data related to healthcare fraud, having previously worked for his former boss. He's been working on a PhD in psychology concurrently with his daily job. This PhD focuses on self-identity within the Theory of Planned Behaviour in health psychology. He currently works as a data consultant at Sparke & Keane. Through regression analysis, systematic reviews, and factor analysis, he seeks to develop new understandings within health psychology. At his work, he tries to make an impact by focusing on the needs of customers, making an impact through data visualisations and improved processes. He's passionate about mindset, personal development, and motivation. In addition, he writes an eBook about job interviews to help people improve their chances of getting hired.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Sophía Thijs
 
Sophiá is one of the many examples how to have  a multi-career path and yet respecting boundaries. She likes to share research's results why it highly necessary that we need a new definition of 'being successful'. We can all relate to the pressure of graduating, making money and being busy. In 2022 she shared in a TedX it's not only about certificates and achieving goals  to feel more succesful and happy. It's more about combining two perspectives at the same time: working towards a goals ánd being content through other ways of fulfillment while working towards that goal. Example: a professionall football player most likely will score more goals per 90 min, depending on other success factors (team cohesion, having fun during trainings or staying resilient during fallbacks).
 
As a Flemisch person she came into the assertive Dutch work culture and started working as a psychologist at the age of 23 by visiting multi-problem families at their homes. The university nourished the sole dogma that it's normal to work as hard as possible towards a post-master's degree, but she felt like a weirdo because she didn't want to do this. It took years to dare to apply a different method in her work as a psychologist, specifically because she experienced herself what it's like to have mental illnesses within her closed ones; and to depend on professionals. By giving duo lectures with a student, she shows the power of professional experience and personal affinity.
 
As a young adult, she found herself wanting to develop other talents besides the prescribed path of working as a psychologist. Now, 13 years later, she balances work between these areas:
  • working in her own company MET Sophía. In the latter, she's been guiding students and adults to use exercise and nutrition as long-term solutions to obtain mental & physical fitness. She offers affordable help for students who need help in preventing burn-out or addiction.
  • volunteering & training new volunteers of ngo @ease (ease.nl)
  • Trying to jobcraft her own job that has nothing to do with psychology ;)
  • 1 day of not working: 'living' the life, while devoting time to relationships.

She balances life by expressing herself through singing, hiking and being a creative director in portrait photoshoots.
-----------------------------------------------------------------