On January 30, YoungKWG hosted the annual event “A PhD, is that for me?”, welcoming 65 master students from across the country who are considering their next steps. Participants were offered a full day of activities designed to provide a broad overview of what it means to pursue a PhD, expose them to diverse perspectives and highlight opportunities both during and after a PhD.

The day started with a warm welcome over coffee and tea, after which the participants gathered in Theater 7 at the VU for the opening session: a keynote talk by Rianne de Heide (UT & CWI). She delivered an inspiring presentation, sharing her experiences as a PhD candidate, her academic journey so far, and her current perspective as a supervisor.

After a short break, Marlou Gijzen (ASML) took the stage to give a lively talk about her PhD experience in Japan, her transition to industry, and her current role at ASML. The contrast between the two speakers’ career paths provided valuable insight into the range of possibilities following a PhD.

Following the morning program, participants enjoyed a nice lunch and had the opportunity for informal discussions with the speakers.

In the afternoon, participants split into small groups for the carousel sessions, which were structured around various topics related to PhD life and careers in and beyond academia. Seventeen panelists from different fields of mathematics and at different career stages contributed their perspectives. In rotating sessions of approximately 20 minutes, participants engaged in small-group discussions on topics of their choice.

The day concluded with a session introducing the history, objectives, and activities of YoungKWG, followed by drinks and snacks. Overall, the event was great success and was widely appreciated by participants as helpful in shaping their future career decisions.

Are you a master student interested in pursuing a PhD? Keep an eye on our website and we hope to see you at next year’s edition!