'Working with PhD candidates gives me energy'
Erik Danen is the new Dean of the Graduate School from 1 January. He is a professor at the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research and conducts research into cancer drugs. Danen is really looking forward to it: ‘PhD candidates are a special group: that's what I like to dedicate myself to.’
Why did you say 'yes'?
‘I have been programme director for Biopharmaceutical Sciences for the past four years. I really enjoyed doing that. I enjoy having an administrative function in addition to my research. That way, you get to know the university and our faculty in a completely different way. And it was very convenient, as I had just stopped being programme director.
I find this subject incredibly important. PhD candidates are a special group; together with postdocs, they do almost all the research in our faculty. It is a diverse group of young people from the Netherlands or from very different parts of the world who will be developing as researchers in our various institutes. I find it very nice to dedicate myself to them.’
Why is the Graduate School important?
‘PhD candidates and supervisors can contact the Graduate School with all their questions. Furthermore, the Graduate School ensures that everything around the PhD track is carefully arranged. It is important that this is done in the same way within all institutes.
We want everyone to have a nice and safe working environment.
We do this together as a team. The Graduate School is part of Academic Affairs and it is staffed by very good people. With this team, we can definitely make steps forward!’
What are your plans?
‘In the first year, I want to continue mainly on the path of the previous dean. Eric Eliel has left the Graduate School in great shape.
Furthermore, we are now fully engaged in the project around completing the two times 140 hours that new PhD candidates have to spend on 'academic and transferable skills'. These include how to write a good scientific paper or give a professional presentation. And some preparation for the job market. Very important of course, because many PhD students do not go into science. It is great if we can prepare them well.
Developing additional skills is a new component for all PhD students at our university. There is a lot available from the university, courses from HR for example. Some components are compulsory, such as a module on academic integrity. We are now going to design it further for our faculty, for each faculty there are of course different emphases. And we are going to make sure it becomes part of the annual evaluation. What does the PhD student need, what can he or she still grow in?’
What do you hope the Graduate School will be like in four years' time?
‘In any case, I hope to maintain the same level as it is now, and in doing so, I would like to explore how we can work together with the PhD students and promoters even better. In the coming months, I will talk to the PhD students and all scientific directors. What is their opinion: what goes well, what could be better?
And I want to start a platform in which one or two PhD students from each institute participate. The aim is to hear what is going on among PhD students. For example, during a biannual lunch meeting. Are things working well for them now? How are things in their institute? Do they know where to go when there are issues? It is important that we speak to each other regularly. We want everyone to have a nice and safe working environment. And to hear whether that is the case, we need to be in touch.’
How is it combined with your work as a professor?
‘I do research three days and have two days for my work as Dean of the Graduate School. That's fine and that's how I was used to it as programme director. In fact, I think I can combine this role better as there is less time pressure. I think it can be planned better. Anyway, I am starting now, I still have to experience it.’
Are there things I haven't asked yet?
‘Did I already mention that I find PhD candidates a super interesting group? Working with them is a lot of fun. I get a lot of energy from that.’