Testimonials
Curious about what it's like to study the Master's in Microbiology? Read about the experiences of students, teachers and alumni below. What's the atmosphere like, what drives teachers and where will you end up?
Testimonials of students
I really like the fact that despite the Master's in Microbiology being very specific, the internship (and work) opportunities are very broad.
- Previous education
- Biologie en Medisch Laboratorium Onderzoek (Avans Hogeschool, Breda)
- Programme
- Microbiology
- Study start date
- Study end date
Master's student Merijn Verwijmeren is studying Microbiology at Radboud University.
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
The Master's in Microbiology gives a nice overview of microbiological research in both the medical and environmental sectors. I myself have more experience with research in the medical sector through my previous education (Bachelor's degree in biology and medical laboratory research, Avans Hogeschool in Breda). That is precisely why it is interesting to see other sides of microbiology. This has also made me think about possible next steps after my studies.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
There is mutual respect between tutor and student and tutors are very approachable. There is a safe atmosphere during lessons, which encourages asking questions. But teachers are also easy to reach outside lessons via e-mail and on location. The atmosphere between students is also very good. In a short time, I have managed to build up a very good friendship with a number of fellow students. It is especially nice that many people have different backgrounds but everyone has the same interests, which makes it easy to make contact.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
With the writing assignments in particular, it is important to make a tight schedule and to stick to it. During the Master's, you are responsible for your own progress, so you have to work hard to complete it within two years. You can also choose to take three years, for instance. I myself have been studying for a longer time now because of my prior education, and therefore choose to complete the study within two years but this requires discipline. I myself benefited a lot from the study information point (STIP), where Conny (Biology study coordinator) helped me with my planning.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
I chose to do one internship within medical microbiology and one internship within environmental microbiology to get a more complete picture of the possibilities with this Master's degree. For my first internship, I researched humoral immunity to Neisseria at the RIVM in Bilthoven. I am doing my second internship at MNEXT in Breda, where I am researching the relationship between stress in fungi and the production of pure mycelium materials (as a replacement for animal leather, for example). I really like the fact that despite the Master's in Microbiology being very specific, the internship (and work) opportunities are very broad. In addition, I also like the fact that Radboud encourages looking for internships outside the university, this was a reason for me to choose Radboud and not a master's elsewhere that I had also been taken on.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree? What are your plans once you have received your Master's degree?
I really enjoy doing research, but you often need a Master's to actually draw conclusions from your own experiments. To get more challenge from work, I chose to do a Master's. This has also given me the option of doing a PhD after completing my studies. It is precisely because of this challenge that I am able to solve complex problems, enabling me to make a good contribution to enriching knowledge that can be used in society.
Graduates of biology go on to make significant contribution in diverse fields from healthcare to environment and beyond.
- Previous education
- BSc in Biotechnology, Chemistry & Zoology at CHRIST (deemed to be) University, India
- Nationality
- Indian
- Programme
- Microbiology
- Country of previous education
- India
- Study start date
- Study end date
Souvik Mitra is a master student Microbiology.
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why?
The master's in Biology with specialisation in Microbiology offers a diverse range of courses spanning environmental microbiology and medical microbiology. Even mandatory courses in cell biology and biochemistry are covered which provides an important foundation in understanding other concepts in microbiology. All these courses offer a holistic overview of microbiology. Students can pursue electives from a broad range of subjects in biology depending on their interests. The lecturers are helpful and supportive even when it comes to discussing topics outside the course such as related to finding an internship. During the lectures, the lecturers do not hesitate to discuss their field research and specialisation. This is fascinating for students, and many of them may be inspired by this kind of research.
The program has challenged me to think independently and critically. At the same time, it has challenged me to work in groups and collaborate. It has also made me more confident to explore outside my interests, thus enabling me to take more informed decisions.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The classroom size is small with an average of 20 students. A small classroom size can improve learning and enables teachers to give special attention depending on the learning needs. It has a significant proportion of international students (mostly from the European Union countries) as well. Most lectures had group assignment sessions where peers were encouraged to form groups to solve an answer to a question. This encouraged team building and improved soft skills as well. Most students try to be helpful to each other. The lecturers are highly knowledgeable and experts in their respective fields of research. They are approachable and foster learning. The same can be said for the research scholars as well. This is especially evident when one performs an internship at the department of Microbiology. At times, during internship, students might require guidance and input from other researchers and teachers in the department. If it is their expertise, then they are always willing to help.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)?
Coming from a bachelor's in which I had semester wise courses (wherein, each course was for 5 months) I think that the initial challenge for me was to adjust to 3EC courses which were only for 3 weeks in duration. Although the course duration was less, the amount of content for the examination was high. This caused stress for many students including me. However, I was able to adjust to this system and planned my preparation for the exam. I would say that another challenging situation which many students encountered was to find an internship. Although there is a lot of support available from the faculty as well as from the department, I still believe that students can be made well prepared during the duration of the courses for finding and doing an internship of their interest.
Apart from this, the fact that students are themselves in charge of guiding their own masters was something new for me. I found it challenging to understand the course structure (which electives should I take and when, etc) during the initial days.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
Yes, currently I am doing my second master's internship at Radboud UMC. It is going to be for six months.
During this internship, under the supervision of my supervisor, I will develop a qPCR based approach to analyse the presence and expression of Fusobacterium nucleatum genes linked to colorectal cancer (CRC) and set-up a biobank of Fusobacterium strains.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most frequently diagnosed type of cancer and it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Research has shown that Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), a gram negative, anaerobic bacteria has been correlated with CRC.
The presence of Fn in the oral cavity can be detected by acquiring saliva samples from patients with CRC. This strategy represents an accessible, non-invasive screening of CRC. This study aims for possible detection of specific clades of Fusobacterium from the saliva of patient samples for CRC detection.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree?
Graduates of biology go on to make significant contribution in diverse fields from healthcare to environment and beyond. Microbiology in particular has immense opportunities. Microorganisms have had a profound impact on the earth thanks to their billions of years of existence, yet it is important to be humble and acknowledge the fact that so much remains to be known about them. From being valuable aids in mitigating the impacts of climate change to developing crucial lifesaving vaccines to deadly diseases, the science of microbiology holds the answers.
Although undecided, I have plans to pursue a PhD in the field of palaeomicrobiology after my masters. It is an emerging discipline which looks at microbiology through the lens of history and archaeology to answer questions about prehistoric origins of diseases, past human-microbe interactions, etc. I also have interest in studying about the human microbiome.
The programme has challenged me to think at a deeper and more integrative level.
- Previous education
- Biology (Bachelor), Universitat de Girona (Girona)
- Nationality
- Catalonian (Spanish)
- Programme
- Microbiology
- Country of previous education
- Catalunya (Spain)
- Study start date
- Study end date
Martí Cairó i Ferrer is a master student Microbiology.
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why?
What I like most about the programme is how specialized it is in environmental microbiology. It goes far beyond theory or memorization the focus is on understanding processes and applying knowledge to real-world situations. I also appreciate how the courses encourage critical thinking and creativity; we are not only expected to master concepts, but also to connect them across disciplines and use them to interpret and present experimental results. This approach has really helped me develop a more holistic and applied scientific mindset.
Coming from a more general biology background, the programme has challenged me to think at a deeper and more integrative level. Instead of simply learning facts, I’ve had to analyze data, link microbiological mechanisms to environmental contexts, and clearly communicate my reasoning. This shift from passive learning to active problem-solving and scientific communication has been demanding, but it has also made me a much more independent and confident researcher.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class?
The atmosphere in class is excellent. We have a diverse and talented group of students from different backgrounds, which really enriches discussions and brings a variety of perspectives and ways of thinking. This diversity not only raises the overall quality of the classroom but also makes it easy to form meaningful and long-lasting friendships.
The teachers and researchers are also outstanding highly professional, approachable, and genuinely supportive. They are always open to help, often going beyond what is required for the courses. I especially appreciate how they also support students in integrating into the country and provide valuable advice for our future academic or professional paths.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)?
One of the main challenges of this Master’s is that it is not focused on memorizing lectures or studying for exams, but rather on applying knowledge in a practical and research-oriented way. Most courses include a strong practical component, often involving presentations or essays, which requires you to think critically and communicate your ideas clearly.
Additionally, half of the programme's credits come from two internships in real, impactful microbiology research. This hands-on approach is extremely valuable, but it also brings a certain level of personal pressure you want to produce high-quality work and deliver reports that reflect the trust and responsibility given to you as a young researcher.
Are you currently doing an internship?
I have already completed my first internship at KWR in Nieuwegein (Utrecht), where I worked on the use of naturally occurring bacteriophages as a new method to assess the effectiveness of pathogen removal in disinfection processes at drinking water treatment plants.
This coming January, I will start my second internship at the Department of Microbiology at Radboud University. My project will focus on studying an almost pure batch culture of comammox bacteria, aiming to better understand their physiology and ecological role to use them as nitrogen removers in waste water treatment plants.
Why do you think it is important that there are people with this degree?
This Master’s degree prepares microbiologists in a way that goes beyond the Bachelor’s level. It trains students to connect and integrate different areas of knowledge, creating a network of ideas that can be applied to explain, predict, and solve real-world problems such as nitrogen contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, pathogen control, and biotechnological challenges.
After completing this degree, I plan to pursue a PhD to continue researching the role of microbes in nutrient cycles, with a particular focus on water systems.
Testimonials of teachers and researchers
I am fascinated by the fact that we have not yet described many of small molecules in humans and bacteria. There is a lot of new discoveries to be made!
- Nationality
- Nederlandse
- Programme
- Microbiology
Robert Jansen is Assistant professor - Microbiology at Radboud University in Nijmegen.
Could you introduce yourself?
I am Robert Jansen, researcher at the Department of Microbiology. However, my education was not in microbiology. After completing a degree in Pharmacy (1998), doctoral research at the Slotervaart hospital and a postdoc at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, I only started working with bacteria at Cornell University in New York (2015). I coordinate the first-year Bachelor's course in Microbiology, but I am also involved in courses within the Master's specialisation in Microbiology.
Why did you choose to study/work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?
The common thread throughout my research career is the use of LC-MS metabolomics. This is a technique that can measure small molecules in cells and organisms. I am fascinated by the fact that we have not yet described many of these molecules in humans and bacteria. So there is a lot of new discovery to be made!
What are you currently researching?
With my group, we measure small molecules in bacteria in humans and in nature. To give an example, we conduct research on the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. With this, we are trying to better understand the role of known and unknown molecules.
What do you enjoy most about working with students? And what tip do you have for students who are making their study choices?
Working with enthusiastic students keeps me young! Follow your passion and don't worry too much about a job.
Testimonials of alumni
I would like to work in a company where I can help to make a difference using smart biotechnological applications.
- Previous education
- Biotechnology at the University of Salamanca
- Programme
- Microbiology
- Country of previous education
- Spain
Last September, microbiologist Ana Rios Miguel obtained her PhD degree at Radboud University in Nijmegen. Now she’s looking for a job in which she can apply her knowledge to practical and smart improvements with regard to filtering waste water using microbes, such as bacteria.
Ana Rios Miguel studied Biotechnology at the University of Salamanca in Spain. “In secondary school, I became interested in biology and especially in how cells function. That’s why I chose to go to university to study Biotechnology. It’s a mix of biology and technology, to invent applications of biomaterial via engineering, in order to fight environmental pollution, for example.”
That’s also why Ana Rios Miguel ended up at Microbiology: “Microbes, or bacteria, eat everything and can grow in any condition. That’s fascinating. I wanted to know how this is possible and how it works. In order to do that, I needed to conduct fundamental research.”
Master's programme Radboud University
Ana Rios Miguel wanted to do this research in English and thus outside of Spain. “The research programme in the Netherlands is exactly what I was looking for. I finished the Master’s programme and started a PhD at the department of Microbiology at Radboud University in Nijmegen.”
She became a part of the team researching how bacteria can break down the waste in wastewater treatment plants. Quite necessary, as 140 tonnes of chemicals end up in our water systems every year. Because it’s not possible to purify everything yet, the remains end up in the environment via the wastewater. Examples are pesticides, beauty products, and medicines.
Microbiology: bacteria clean wastewater
“We know that bacteria break down pollution”, says Ana Rios Miguel. “But how does it happen? Does the concentration of pollution influence the speed and thoroughness of bacteria cleaning the water? We research this with common pollution, such as paracetamol, metformin and diclofenac.”
“In our lab, we fed bacteria medicine and tested whether they can remove high concentrations more easily than low concentrations. It turns out that higher concentrations speed up the removal. Additional research has to show if higher concentrations also improve the percentage of removal. We also found that a specific gene in the bacteria enables them to break down paracetamol for example. The ultimate goal is that the results lead to a model that represents the influence of bacteria on purification of water. Using that model, bacteria can be employed more efficiently in the future.”
Practically-oriented job
Research is never finished, as Ana Rios Miguel also knows. “Conducting academic research is exciting, but I’m looking for a job that’s practically-oriented. Preferably in the Netherlands, because my partner works in Nijmegen. I would like to work at a company where I can help to make a difference with smart biotechnological applications. Such as employing microbes to prevent environmental pollution.”
“Ideally, these substances don’t occur in the water environment. Until then, bacteria can be a great aid in fighting the pollution and research is needed.”
This interview was first published on TechGelderland. Images: Linda Verweij.