When did you do the IDA master?
2022-2024
How was the IDA Master helpful for what you are doing right now?
IDA prepared me well for my current position as a PhD candidate with the HRS department at Tilburg University. I learned many useful techniques and skills that I can use during my PhD in order to be able to work independently as a researcher.
What was your favorite course? And why?
I liked the statistics courses and the introductory course to programming in R. I also enjoyed the IDA elective „Individual Differences and Work“ due to its interactive structure that included student presentations and class exercises.
What was your favorite moment of the time as an IDA student?
The events at the end of both years were my favorite moments, in the first year the paper presentations and after the second year the graduation ceremony. These moments gave us the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate how far we had already come in addition to looking ahead to the future with joy.
What was your motivation to finish your studies ?
First of all, the content of the courses which made the program as a whole really interesting and the fascinating projects that I was working on along the way. Second of all, I was motivated to get my diploma to be able to continue my path as a researcher by doing a PhD.
Did you experience stress or pressure in your studies, and if yes how did you deal with it?
I must say that most of the time I did not experience a lot of stress or pressure. At the end of the program, there were some difficulties and uncertainties with respect to the planning of data collection for my thesis. My flexibility and the support of my classmates luckily helped me overcome these issues.
What can you advise current or future IDA students?
Sometimes taking a step back and not pushing yourself too much can help to deal with the high demands of the program. I think it is important to find the right balance between achieving your goals but also taking care of yourself.
How was your overall experience in the master?
My overall experience was very positive. During these two years of IDA, I learned a lot about myself as well as about research and therefore could grow academically and personally.
What did you do in your international traineeship and how did you like it?
For my international traineeship, I visited a research lab in Perth, Australia, which was a great experience! I could even attend a conference on work design, which happened to be at the same time, and actually perfectly matches the topic of my current PhD project. I made many new connections and funnily enough met my PhD supervisors there, so this was definitely worth the long trip!
Are you still in touch with other alumni students?
Yes, a lot of people from my cohort also stayed at Tilburg University to do their PhD. It is really fun to catch up from time to time.
How did you experience the relationship with your teachers?
The interactions with teachers were encouraging and provided me with a sense of direction that helped me finish my projects. Their feedback was always very valuable and I learned a lot during the traineeships.
Did you know from the beginning what you want to do after your master? How did you find out what you would like to do?
No, I was open to many different possibilities but unsure about which direction I would like to take. During the course of the Master, however, I realized that conducting research is really inspiring for me and I would like to continue doing research in the future.
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