I chose Systems Biology as it combined my interests – biology and computer science and therefore, Systems Biology seemed like the best of both worlds.
What was your first impression of your master’s programme at Maastricht University?
I immediately liked the fact that the class was very small while the number of professors involved was big. This resulted in a very good teacher to student ratio. I was also pleasantly surprised how involved the lecturers are in our learning process and how much they are willing to help with understanding the material.
Which courses are most interesting?
Personally, I found Computational Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Systems Biology the most interesting courses as they were the most practical ones. In these courses, I was able to get a hands-on experience on how research looks like as both of them required us to work on the project with real data. Additionally, I liked the fact that the groups for both these courses were small, making it even easier to communicate with the lecturers.
How is your student life?
I would consider my student life to be very fulfilling. Even though there is a lot of studying to be done, I always find time to hang out with my friends, party and follow my hobbies such as bouldering. Because of its size, Maastricht feels very welcoming and warm. Even though it’s small, lots of events are happening in the city and there is always something interesting to do.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?
After graduating, I would like to pursue a PhD in computational neuroscience, possibly after a short break. In 5 years, I see myself being confident in the career I’ve chosen and satisfied with my professional life.