Testimonials

Previous education

Bachelor's Biology

Programme

Medical Epigenomics

Barend Mijzen is a Master's student Medical Epigenomics at Radboud University.

What do you like about the programme and why?

I enjoy that the programme really shows you as modern biology research is conducted. Teachers talk enthusiastically about their research during lectures and in internships, you can participate in it.

What do you think about the atmosphere in class?

The small classes allow for interactive lectures and an open environment, everyone feels free to ask questions and participate.

How has the programme challenged you?

This programme challenged me to learn skills like programming, which I had very little experience with. It also challenges you as a scientist to be critical of your own research and take ownership of your projects.

How is the supervision within the study programme?

Everyone gets their own supervisor during the programme, with whom you have several contact points during the years. Next to that, the student advisor is always ready to help you with any uncertainties you might have.

What are your plans once you have received your degree?

After I'm done, I'd like to use the bio-informatical knowledge I gained in this programme in either an academic or business environment.

Why did you choose for the Radboud University?

Radboud University offered a programme that suited my interests in this field, together with the fact that you get to do two internships. Which helped my gain lot of practical experience on how to do research.

What do you like about Nijmegen?

Nijmegen is a fun, vibrant student city, which I didn't want to leave after my Bachelor's. The easy-going atmosphere is something I couldn't miss.

Which information activities do you find valuable and why?

During the open day, you can talk to students about the more practical things concerning the study programme. To really experience what the programme is like, joining a student for a day would be absolutely vital.

What would you advise students when choosing a study programme?

Take responsibility in organising and planning your Master's programme and internships. The large freedom you get here also requires a lot of action from each student.

Programme

Medical Epigenomics

Richard Bartfai is an associate professor in Molecular Biology.

Can you introduce yourself?

I am Richard Bartfai, the coordinator of the Medical Epigenomics specialisation. I have been involved with this programme from the very beginning and I am teaching in the Integrative Omics in Health and Disease as well as in the Data Visualization courses.

Why did you choose to study/work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?

Medical Epigenomics fascinates me as it integrates various high throughput technologies with computational and molecular biology approaches to provide global insight into gene regulation in the context of development, health and disease. 

What are you currently doing your own research on?

I am using integrative omics approaches to understand how malaria parasites employ gene regulatory mechanisms to adapt to and survive in their human host. I am convinced that this knowledge eventually will help to develop better antimalarial control and elimination strategies. 

What advice do you have for students making their study choice?

I always advise students to think off what kind of job they would like to do after concluding their studies and choose the study that best prepares them for this carreer path. If they do not know yet they should choose any study with a subject that fascinates them and they will surely be on the right path.

What is the best part of being a lecturer?

It is very rewarding to see students transforming to young professionals and finding their own path in life. As lecturers we are doing our best to support the personal and professional development of students in support of this process.

Programme

Medical Epigenomics

Rebecca Snabel is conducting PhD research into human heart development. She maps how different functions develop in cultured cardiac muscle cells, using big data among other methods. This is part of the Department of Molecular Developmental Biology.

Rebecca Snabel will obtain her doctorate at the Department of Molecular Developmental Biology at Radboud University Nijmegen at the end of this year. 'I trained as a biologist specialising in medical epigenetics. This involves learning a lot about molecular biology and getting acquainted with bioinformatics. My PhD research builds on my Master's studies and teaches me to work with big data.'

Human stem cells 

The PhD candidate focuses on human stem cells, from which cardiac muscle cells are cultured. 'A colleague at the University of Twente cultures the stem cells into cardiac muscle cells. She "packages" these cardiac muscle cells in tubes, with one cell per tube. She collects about four hundred tubes on a plate', explains Rebecca Snabel.

Since the cardiac muscle cells are kept at minus 80 degrees Celsius, they are sent from the University of Twente to Radboud University on dry ice via a special courier. 'I unpack the cells in the laboratory for further research and work on ice as much as possible', says Rebecca Snabel.

'My first step is to add fluid to each cell separately. I do this with a pipetting robot that I programme via computer. The amount of fluid you add has to be extremely precise. The fluid breaks open the cell, allowing me to begin my research.'

Cells with specific functions 

'It's important to look at how the cells develop over a longer period', emphasises Rebecca Snabel. She zooms out to make it understandable: 'In our body, cells have different functions, but the DNA of all our cells is identical!

Put simply, RNA is the intermediate step in getting from genes on the DNA to proteins, which perform all sorts of different tasks. This is how specific functions develop within cells. Groups of different cells develop into an organ, such as the heart, liver, lungs and so on. Using molecular techniques, I analyse how this functional development works for each cardiac muscle cell separately.'

Statistical programmes 

'From a single cell, we can count up to three thousand different RNAs', continues Rebecca Snabel. 'Using statistical programmes on the computer, I turn this data into tables, giving the cells a profile. That's pure data analysis. Besides my own data, I also use datasets from other researchers, for example with cardiac muscle tissue from mice.'

Interface between biology and data science 

In addition to her research, Rebecca Snabel supervises students during their internships and assists with laboratory practicals. 'I spend most of my time at the screen, as data analysis is a major part of my project.

I particularly enjoy working at the interface between biology and data science. I want to continue doing this after my PhD. Fundamental science, but with a view to practical application. My research contributes pure knowledge, but also leads to medical applications in the future. For example, to better help people with heart disease.'

Published on TechGelderland