Early Career Researchers event
Tuesday 7 October 2025, Kanaal 030
| 19.30- 19.45 | Welcome and brief introduction Antonio d’Errico |
| 19.45-20.00 | Supporting Early Career Researchers: The role of a nationwide postdoc platform Marlen Lauffer Marlen (chair of PostdocNL) will speak about the establishment and maintenance of a nationwide postdoc network. She will highlight how such a platform can connect postdoctoral researchers and advocate for improved working conditions for early career researchers. In addition, Marlen will address current challenges within the academic system that continue to affect early career researchers and discuss the steps needed to tackle these issues moving forward. |
| 20.00- 20.40 | Workshop: Let’s talk about mental health! Paula Meesters As an Early Career Researcher, you may sometimes find yourself in a dependent or uncertain position. This can lead to stress, insecurity, and even feelings of unsafety. In this session, we will explore understanding mental health, coping with stress and pressure, and (re)building resilience. The session will offer a balanced mix of personal experience-sharing, reflection, discussion, theory, and practical exercises. Participants are encouraged to bring their openness, and to share personal values, insights, and challenges. All information will be treated strictly confidential. |
| 20.40- 20.45 | Closing remarks Antonio d’Errico |
| 20.45 | Informal drinks & networking |
Antonio D’Errico
Antonio (Toni) is a postdoctoral researcher in the Occupational Health group at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) of Utrecht University. He is trained in occupational and environmental epidemiology, with a focus on exposure science. His work primarily focuses on the LEXCES project, the Dutch expertise center for substance-related occupational diseases, and the EPHOR project, the EU Exposome Project for Health and Occupational Research.
Marlen Lauffer
Marlen is a physician-scientist and senior researcher at Leiden University Medical Center, where she focuses on developing genetic therapies for patients with rare diseases. She joined PostdocNL as a board member in autumn 2022, became co-chair in 2024, and has served as chair since January 2025. In this role, Marlen works to connect postdoctoral researchers across the Netherlands and advocates for improved working conditions and career opportunities for the postdoctoral community.
Paula Meesters
Paula is a licensed Psychologist, and she has been working as PhD-psychologist at Delft University of Technology 2011-2020 and at Utrecht University since 2020. She gives workshops for Graduate Schools and other ECR/PhD communities and advises supervisory teams, mentors, and confidential advisors. The core of her work is to give individual treatment and PhD support groups. Paula is mainly educated in cognitive behavioural therapy, solution focused, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment.