Winners Supervisor of the Year Award 2024
Winners PhD Supervisor of the Year Awards 2024 announced at festive event.
On 17th October, the PhD Council of the Graduate School of Life Sciences announced the recipients of the 2024 PhD Supervisor of the Year Awards.
Aftermovie PhD Supervisor of the Year Awards 2024
The celebratory event, featuring live music from BombaNaranja and refreshments, began with an engaging panel discussion. Together with the audience, the panellists explored various challenges faced by PhD supervisors, including how to balance offering guidance while fostering independence and managing expectations. The consensus was that supervisory styles must be tailored to each individual student.
Following the discussion, the GSLS PhD Council committee announced the shortlist of nominees and explained why their PhD candidates were so impressed by their supervision methods. A common thread among the nominees was their ability to cultivate a supportive and safe working environment, allowing their students to thrive. Though all the nominees were exceptional, two winners emerged. Congratulations to Saskia Suijkerbuijk, awarded PhD Co-Supervisor of the Year, and Marcel Bouvy, awarded PhD Supervisor of the Year!
The shortlist of nominees included great supervisors, praised by their PhD candidates.
PhD co-supervisors: Ganna Rozhnova (UMC Utrecht), Marc Baggelaar (Utrecht University), Ruber van Eijk (UMC Utrecht), Saskia Suijkerbuijk (Utrecht University).
PhD supervisors: Cindy Veenhof (UMC Utrecht), Lotty Hooft (UMC Utrecht), Marcel Bouvy (Utrecht University), Olaf Cremer (UMC Utrecht).
The complete list of all nominated (co-)supervisors can be found here.
We spoke to the winners to gain further insight into their approaches to supervision.
PhD Co-Supervisor of 2024
Saskia Suijkerbuijk, Developmental Biology, Utrecht University
What is your personal supervision style?
Throughout my career I have worked with multiple inspiring mentors. All of them had different styles of leadership, which taught me what I value as a supervisor and what I would like to avoid. For example, they showed me how powerful motivation and inspiration is, the need to take action (don’t wait for others) and to value collaboration and a strong network. These are all aspects that I try to incorporate in my supervision style. I highly value a safe and transparent working environment, encourage open communication and value the opinion of all group members. I aim to guide a cohesive and diverse team where every member can grow and function to their full potential.
What do you like most about supervising PhD candidates?
What I love most is to follow the development of PhD candidates. It is amazing to see them learn and grow into their projects and become independent thinkers.
What is the most important lesson you learned throughout your career as a supervisor?
Supervising students, at all different stages of their careers, has taught me the importance of identifying needs at an early phase of supervision. Every student is different, has individual strengths and weaknesses, and requires a distinctive supervision strategy.
What would be your advice for colleagues that recently started supervising?
Actively listen to your students to understand their ambitions and needs, both as individuals and part of the team. By providing a diverse and safe environment everyone can reach their maximum potential.
PhD Supervisor of 2024
Marcel Bouvy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University
What is your personal supervision style?
My goal is for a PhD student to become an independent researcher by the end of their studies, maintaining a genuine enthusiasm for research. My guidance is focused on achieving this by gradually encouraging them to find their strengths and fostering increasing independence along the way.
What do you like most about supervising PhD candidates?
Each PhD journey is an opportunity to explore new scientific horizons while also getting to know an enthusiastic young professional who, alongside advancing in research, is discovering their own strengths.
What is the most important lesson you learned throughout your career as a supervisor?
Avoid jumping into action too quickly; take the time to listen and understand where their interests truly lie. This is an area where I'm still growing as well.
What would be your advice for colleagues that recently started supervising?
Every PhD student brings a unique background and perspective. Take the time to truly connect with each student—immerse yourself in understanding them, not just in their work but also in how they live their lives.
