During my MSc thesis work in Amsterdam, my advisor suggested that prof. Jan Zaanen from the Instituut-Lorentz of theoretical physics in Leiden wanted to apply our rather mathematical formalism to real-world strongly-correlated quantum matter such as superconductors and quantum liquid crystals. I am interested in the fundamental workings of nature, but funnily enough, several of the deepest and most elementary questions are best tackled by studying collective behaviour of electrons in messy alloys, accessible in quite small-scale laboratories.

The transition to more applied theoretical work also led me to take a larger interest in the actual experiments. As such, the proximity to my Leiden and Delft colleagues proves fruitful in keeping up to date with the latest experimental techniques and results.

Understanding the stuff life’s made off has been a quest for many years, yet it has been mainly addressed in bulk by biochemical assays and biological observations. Meaningful mechanical measurements were hard to perform until recently. The last decades a number of technological advances have enabled us to observe biological reorganization while measuring small forces. With these techniques the field of mechanobiology has emerged and grown. In my PhD at Biophysics in Leiden we measure these phenomena at a single cell level to elucidate some of the many remaining questions as to how we - and cells in general - mechanically work.

As an enthusiastic, young PhD researcher, an environment with like-minded people can greatly encourage and help. Casimir offers both courses and events, but most of all directly puts you directly in touch with a variety of researchers. My first personal Casimir-experience was to attend the Biology for Physicists course. In an informal and curiosity driven approach you directly get in touch with scientists that share your enthusiasm and research drive. Especially in the increasingly multi-disciplinary fields in Physics these connections are of great value. During these meetings new ideas, interesting discussions and the fun in science all come together in the physics connection between Delft and Leiden.

After I finished my master degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Twente, I went out to look for a challenging PhD project. Although a bit uncertain of how to pursue the rest of my career, I knew I wanted to work at the interface of biology, engineering and physics. My search led me to dr. Chirlmin Joo, a new PI in the expanding Bionanoscience department at the TU Delft. Within this department I combine molecular biology and fluorescent microscopy to study proteins at the single molecular level.

For my career I find it important to keep up with developments in a variety of research areas. The Bionanoscience department is already very interdisciplinary, however Casimir provides me with even more opportunities to meet people in other fields of research. Even though I didn’t major in physics, Casimir Researchschool offers me beneficial courses and workshops to not only expand my knowledge, but also work on my personal skills. In addition, the Casimir events provide a fun way to meet interesting people and provide a fertile base for new collaborations. All in all, it is very pleasant to work in a young and dynamic institute as Casimir that provides me with an inspiring environment and a solid foundation for my academic career.

After completing my bachelors in physics in the USA, I came to The Netherlands to participate in the Master of Nanoscience program with Delft and Leiden. The diversity of courses I took, research projects I did and people I met during that time led me to the Casimir Research School in Leiden to work on a PhD in Biophysics. In a joint project between the Physics of Life Processes group in Leiden and the Bio-assembly and Organization at the FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF) in Amsterdam, I have the opportunity to work with two dynamic groups at the forefront of biophysical research. The scientific community is truly an international one, a fact not gone unnoticed in the Casimir Research School where enthusiastic PhDs and Postdocs from all over the world do creative research and join forces in successful collaborations. The contacts, fruitful scientific discussions and experiences as well as the knowledge I have been cultivating during my PhD career have already proven to be valuable.

The Casimir Research School provides useful courses but it is much more than that and it keeps me in touch with wonderful people in other groups at the forefront of science. The contacts with enthusiastic Postdocs and PhDs from different disciplines not only provide new answers to problems but, sometimes even more valuable, they provide new question.

What is more interesting than knowing how the world around us works? Why do tears form in a glass of wine or why do small gold particles appear red instead of yellow. That is why I decided to study applied physics at the University of Twente, The Netherlands. During my study I realized there is another whole new small world to discover and it is called the Cell; What exactly makes life tick. Therefore I am now pursuing a PhD in Biophysics at the Molecular Biophysics group in Delft. Studying life at the single molecule level provides new insights in how life works and what physics allow cells to perform amazing tasks. The Casimir Research School provides useful courses but it is much more than that and it keeps me in touch with wonderful people in other groups at the forefront of science. The contacts with enthusiastic Postdocs and PhDs from different disciplines not only provide new answers to problems but, sometimes even more valuable, they provide new questions.

After I obtained my MSc in physics from Leiden University, I started a PhD with prof.dr. Marco Beijersbergen, professor in Leiden and director of cosine Science & Computing BV, a Dutch contract research company with a strong background in space industry. My research takes place on the boundaries between fundamental and applied physics, combining concepts from quantum optics, astrophysics, telecommunication and space science. The main topic of my research is the orbital angular momentum of light and its applications in astrophysics and communication.

It is the mixture between fundamental and applied physics that appeals to me most in my research. This is exactly what I found in the Casimir Research School, which combines the best of the Leiden and Delft culture and knowledge. For me, Casimir provides the ultimate platform to meet PhD’s, postdocs and scientist from both fundamental and applied physics and to take courses at a high level both in Leiden and Delft. I believe that by talking to scientist with different backgrounds I generate the new ideas that drive my research.