Welcome New Student Assistants to the 3RCU Team
The 3Rs Centre Utrecht (3RCU) is delighted to welcome two new student assistants to the team: Doga Bilen and Stela Marjanović, who introduce themselves below. Doga and Stela will support a range of activities across the 3RCU, contributing to our communication efforts and projects that promote the implementation of the 3Rs and animal-free innovations. We are excited to have them on board and look forward to working with them in the coming year.
Doga Bilen
"I was born in Turkey and moved to the Netherlands at 14, where growing up in an international community taught me early on how much there is to learn from the people around you. Now based in Utrecht, I completed my bachelor's in Pharmaceutical Sciences and am now pursuing my master's in Drug Innovation. I'm driven by curiosity, collaboration, and the belief that the best ideas come from diverse perspectives. When I'm not in the lab, I'm travelling and discovering new cafes and cuisines."
What inspired you to join the 3RCU team?
"My path into this field started with a growing unease around animal-based research during my bachelor's. Through lab internships, I discovered how deeply animal-derived products are embedded in the life sciences and how little that is questioned. That conviction is what drew me to this opportunity. I hope to see more researchers critically examining their materials and seeking alternatives, and I believe the updated FCS-free database can be the reference point that makes that shift possible."
Stela Marjanović
"After living in Croatia for 18 years, I moved to the Netherlands to pursue my studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Utrecht University. Currently, I am completing my Master’s in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences and Business Studies at Leiden University, where I was introduced to animal-free in vitro systems. This sparked my curiosity about alternatives to animal testing and the role that innovative, human-relevant models can play in improving pharmaceutical research."
What inspired you to join the 3RCU team?
"I applied for this position because I wanted to explore my growing interest in alternatives to animal testing. Learning about animal-free in vitro models during my Master’s made me curious about their potential, but also about the challenges involved in implementing them in research. The 3Rs Centre seemed like an ideal place to learn from experts, and support the transition towards human-relevant research methods."
We are excited to have Doga and Stela on board and look forward to the fresh perspectives and enthusiasm they will bring to the team. Welcome to the 3RCU—we wish you both success in your new roles!