Testimonials

Nationality

Nederlands

Programme

Immunology and Host Defense

Melanie Vierhout is a Master's student in Biomedical Sciences.

What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? 

The freedom of choice in courses and internship is something I really like about the master's programme. For the specialisation it is also nice that some courses are fixed. Based on content the courses in the specialisation overlap a certain amount making you feel like you really are specializing in a certain field/topic. Which is something I really like. The pace is higher than in my previous education though, so that is definitely something that has challenged me. It also requires that you think beyond the theory, like speculating about the clinical implications of newer discoveries that are being made in the field. 

What do you think about the atmosphere in class?

During lectures the relationship is still very teacher-student but in workgroups or other types of classes the relationship is different. The teachers want to help you understand the topic better and you are allowed, and even encouraged, to have discussions with them about several topics. So the atmosphere is very nice and it is a good environment for learning!

What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? 

The most challenging part for me in the master and master specialisation is the pace at which the courses progress. You basically can't miss a day of classes because you miss so much information. The courses are also only a month long so there is not really any time to catch back up. And because the material is hard and sometimes challenging it is quite difficult if you are sick for a day or more because you lag a bit compared to the other students. 

Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?

Currently I am not doing an internship nor writing a thesis yet. My internship is starting in March and it will be about assessing a ultrasound protocol (VExUS) in vunerable patients in the Radboudumc. I will be investigating the prevalence of venous congestion and then evaluating if VExUS should be inplemented more in the clinic for all vunerable patients based on the prevalence of venous congestion. 

Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? 

There is so much that you can do with this degree and it depends for a little bit on what courses you follow but that does not necessarily limit your career options. With just the different profiles currently offered you can become a consultant, continue your career in research or become a science journalist for example. The ability of communicating or consulting about biomedical topics is quite important in a society so everybody can understand some or all of the implications or effects resulting from innovative research currently being conducted. And with this degree you can do the research and/or communicate or consult with other parties about the research results. I think I want to continue in the research field after receiving my Master's degree, but I am not entirely sure yet, the options are endless.