Emma Heling

Emma Heling
I wish I had known that this whole PhD journey is really about learning and diving into a topic you love
Name
Emma Heling
Current role
PhD candidate

My name is Emma, PhD student in the CAN-lab of Erno Hermans. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a vet. Playing and cuddling with cats, dogs, and mice all day seemed like the perfect way to spend my time. But when I volunteered at a vet clinic to gain more experience, I realized that wasn’t the whole job. There was a lot more to it—hard decisions, medical procedures, and things that weren’t just about hanging out with animals. So, I let go of that dream and came up with a new one: being a mom.

Fast forward sixteen years, and I’m a cognitive neuroscientist. Funny how life works. Looking back, I started out studying psychology because I was curious about why people think and act the way they do, especially how we all differ. Then I took a social neuroscience course — it was love at first sight. That’s what got me into cognitive neuroscience. I did an extra bachelor’s degree in cognitive neuroscience and a research thesis on how oral contraceptives affect empathy, using EMG to measure facial muscle activity. Wanting to dig even deeper into how the brain works, I went for a master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience Research (RU). One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was working as a research assistant and then jumping into a PhD. Yeah, our destiny is not written in the stars but shaped by our own choices.

Now, two years into my PhD, I wish I had known that this whole PhD journey is really about learning and diving into a topic you love. There is no rush in the beginning; you’re here to grow, not to prove yourself. You are in charge of your projects. Never forget that! Go ahead and enjoy (PhD trajectory or aperol spritz), there is no such thing as a second PhD in neuroscience. See ya!!