From the Graduate School of Life Sciences to a PhD at Harvard

by Merle Scholten

Many GSLS students continue doing research after their studies and some even move abroad for their scientific career. One of those students is Bart Lodder who is currently doing a PhD in Neuroscience at Harvard 木瓜福利影视. I spoke with him about his research, his decision to move to Boston, and his experiences so far.

Bart finished his Master鈥檚 in Neuroscience and Cognition at the UU last January and since then has started his PhD in the group of Bernardo Sabatini, who specializes in systems-, and behavioural neuroscience. 鈥淲e look at a specific cell type, receptor, or neurotransmitter and by turning these on or off, we investigate their effects on different kinds of behaviour, such as learning, motivation, and fear.鈥

We look at a specific cell type, receptor, or neurotransmitter and by turning these on or off, we investigate their effects on different kinds of behaviour, such as learning, motivation, and fear.

Bart Lodder - PhD candidate at Harvard 木瓜福利影视

In his research, Bart uses optogenetics to study these effects in mice. This technique makes it possible to use light to either activate or deactivate the neurons of interest. He does this by placing an optical fibre in the brain of the mouse and adding light-sensitive proteins in neurons which can then be turned on or off. Bart uses this technique to study the signalling of the neurotransmitter dopamine. 鈥淭his is a very important and interesting system as it is involved in different neurological diseases such as Parkinson and Huntington but also in addiction, for example.鈥

His interest in this topic was not his only motivation to move to the U.S. for his PhD. 鈥淚 wanted to be working at the forefront of research, at a top university. That鈥檚 also my main reason for moving abroad鈥, Bart explains. 鈥淭he Sabatini group combines these things and also possesses broad (technological) knowledge.鈥

So far, his experiences in Boston have been positive. Although PhD life can be stressful, Bart finds that it鈥檚 better to focus on doing fun research and enjoy the everyday PhD life than to stress about getting results and publications. 鈥淚f you work hard but also enjoy your research, publications will follow eventually.鈥

If you work hard but also enjoy your research, publications will follow eventually.

When asking about his plans after his PhD, Bart says the following: 鈥淚鈥檝e just started! First I want to enjoy being a graduate student. Maybe I鈥檒l go further in academia or maybe I鈥檒l go and work for a company but we鈥檒l see that when the time comes.鈥 That鈥檚 also his tip for current master students: You don鈥檛 have to have your whole career figured out just yet. You can make these decisions along the way or even change directions later on in your career.