Willem Birkhoff
My name is Willem Birkhoff I am 1st year phd student at the Centre for human drug research. My research is in the cardiovascular section of CHDR. My background is medicine, not specialized yet. Currently my research is about a new medicine for a heritage muscle disease.
As chair of the board, my function is to coordinate LEO in the year 2014. We will bring you a lot of fun social events, send you 2 nice thesis this year. Also we will keep you updated via the newsletter and we will represent you in the meeting with the vice rector. Looking forward to a nice year and hope to see you on lots of drinks!
Zohreh Zahedi
My name is Zohreh Zahedi and I’m doing my PhD at the Centre for Science & Technology Studies (CWTS) at Leiden University. My PhD project focus on using alternative metrics (Altmetrics) as an alternative and new data source for measuring research performance, to investigate whether alternative metrics can be useful for research assessment and can complement the traditional metrics.
I’ll be the secretary of the LEO board for 2014 and my work involves with writing minutes of our board meetings and other issues. I hope to have a successful LEO 2014 ahead!
Aquiles Carattino
My name is Aquiles Carattino, I am in my second year as a PhD in Physics (http://www.single-molecule.nl). I am working in optical trapping gold Nanoparticles, aiming for biological applications of this technique. One of the possible applications would be to manipulate this tiny structures inside living cells, for testing their mechanical properties.
As vice-chair, webaster and treasurer, I need to be there when Willem is missing, keep track of all the expenditures LEO is doing and keeping this nice website running. If you have any regards considering this topics, you may always contact me, or wait to meet me during the PhD Drinks!
Aicha Laghmouchi
My name is Aicha Laghmouchi, I work as a PhD candidate at the Hematology department in the LUMC. I have done my studies in Biomedical Sciences, specialized in cell biology and immunology. The goal of my PhD project is in short developing a strategy to get hematopoiesis-restricted T cells for broad therapeutic application of different hematological malignancies.
As member of the board, I will share the following two functions with Chris: external affairs officer and social events officer. The first is to represent LEO and its members to other organisations, like the national PhD association (PNN). The second function is to organize social events for PhD students in Leiden, where we all can socialize and have fun! The coming year I hope to see each one of you at these events!
Chris Smiet
I am a PhD student in the physics department, in the Quantum Optics group. I study topological exitations of magnetohydrodynamical systems, In other words I tie lightning into knots with lasers. Kapow!
Together with Aicha I share the functions external and social, which means we try to defend the interests of leiden PhD candidates both within the university in talks with the board of directors, as well as nationally by allying with PhD associations in other cities and PNN. And we take the lead in organizing social events for all Leiden PhD canditates.
Soumya Deep Chatterjee
I am Soumya Deep Chatterjee and I work as a PhD candidate at the Leiden Institute of Chemistry. I am a microbiologist by education and structural biologist by passion. My PhD project is aimed at studying the relation between structure, dynamics and function of critical proteins in humans and their interaction with drugs using NMR spectroscopy and computational biology.
As an external affairs officer of the LEO, together with Chris, my job is to voice and serve the concerns of Leiden PhD candidates with regular meetings with the University board of directors and coordinate with the national PhD association (PNN) for a broader national perspective of promoting our university’s research work.
Aleksandrina Skvortsova
My name is Aleksandrina Skvortsova and I’m a PhD candidate at the Psychology department, Medical, Health and Neuropsychology Unit. My PhD projects focuses on the effects of expectancy and learning on the endocrine system. I will be a PR officer of LEO. My main task is to make LEO known among PhD students and promote its activities. This year will be full of events and I hope to see you there!