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Every year, 10 female Ph.D. candidates receive the Christine Mohrmann Stipend awarded by the Radboud University. Up to 2020, the awardees could only use the stipend to go abroad and get new experiences. It is now possible to use the 5000 euro grant in different ways. Still, most of the winners of this year chose to go abroad. Who would say no to an excuse to travel and get paid for it after a tiresome year of pandemic? The destinations include Australia, Canada, U.S.A, Italy, France, Germany, and Aruba. This is an excellent opportunity for ambitious female scientists to widen their horizons and develop their expertise. Let’s hear from two bright women who just received the award on March 25th: Yvonne Derks and Cansu Yangınlar.
Can you tell us a bit about your personal and scientific background?
Yvonne: I studied Biomedical Sciences here in Nijmegen. 
My main research interests are translational studies and cancer immunology. In September 2017, I started my Ph.D., in which I aim to use molecular imaging techniques and photodynamic therapy to improve the outcome of image-guided prostate cancer surgery. Since I love to talk, this translational Ph.D. project is perfect for me! I can communicate with, and build bridges between, different disciplines. For example, I am “the bridge” between organic chemists and medical doctors.
Cansu: I studied Molecular Biology and Genetics at Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey). 
During my first year of university, I had an introductory lecture on immunology, and I was fascinated by all the unusual characteristics of the immune system. Looking back now, I can definitely say that this encounter (love at first sight?) shaped all my future academic decisions. After my graduation in 2015, I moved to the Netherlands to join the master's program Molecular Mechanisms of Disease. I did my first master's internship with Prof. Johan van der Vlag on autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). During my master's, I was happy both socially and academically. It was, therefore, an excellent opportunity for me to receive a personal Ph.D. grant from Radboudumc. Since November 2017, I work as a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Nephrology. The goal of my project is to identify the role of trained immunity in SLE.
What does this achievement mean to you, and how did you celebrate?
Yvonne: I am very honored to receive this prize! Unfortunately, I heard the news while I was alone, working from home. I immediately started calling my friends, colleagues, and family, who were all very proud, of course. After the ceremony on the 25th of March, I raised a glass of wine to this achievement with my family 😊
Cansu: Ph.D. is a long journey. It is full of extensive "incubation" periods, during which nothing "exciting" happens. Receiving grants/awards or finishing manuscripts are nice dividers of these incubation periods. It was, therefore, amazing to hear that I was one of the ten scientists who received a Christine Mohrmann Stipend. In addition to the very nice official celebration ceremony, I also ordered food from my favorite Turkish restaurant for the celebration.
What research will you be doing at the institution you'll be visiting?
Yvonne: The Christine Mohrmann stipend enables me to visit the Experimental Molecular Imaging (ExMI) institute in Aachen. The ExMI is a prestigious institute in molecular imaging with access to advanced state-of-the-art preclinical molecular imaging techniques, all combined in one institute unique within Europe. There, I can learn more about new molecular imaging techniques that are not present at the Nuclear Medicine department in Nijmegen, either with the tracers developed during my Ph.D. or with tracers developed at the ExMI.
Hence, I can further develop my expertise in the field. I can gain new experiences by working in a foreign laboratory and building on a network of fellow international researchers!
Cansu: I will use my stipend to visit Dr. Horacio E. Oduber Hospital in Aruba, where the incidence of SLE is much higher. I already collected samples from a large patient cohort in Aruba almost two years ago. Thanks to this stipend, we will be able to collect precious follow-up samples from our patient cohort.
We wish Yvonne, Cansu, and all the other awardees wonderful trips, unforgettable memories, and lots of scientific growth!
Interview by Özlem Bulut and Estel Collado Camps
