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Get to know Anouk Bouma!

When did you do the IDA master?

2022-2024

How was the IDA Master helpful for what you are doing right now?

It prepared me for getting accepted to the PhD position I am currently in.

What was your favorite course? And why?

My favorite courses were the traineeships because I could tailor them specifically to my interests in statistics and methods.

What was your favorite moment of the time as an IDA student?

I think the graduation ceremony will be my best moment, because we can proudly look back on our achievements.

What was your motivation to finish your studies ?

Being able to start a PhD

Did you experience stress or pressure in your studies, and if yes how did you deal with it?

Of course, I tried to keep to my schedule and never sacrifice sleep. Without sleep I cannot think and I am unhappy. Therefore I tried to stick to working 9-17 during the weekdays. Of course sometimes weekends were unavoidable, but then I would take some rest days after a deadline was done.

What can you advise current or future IDA students?

Try to look at vacancies for jobs and see what interests you. Then see if there are skills you want to learn during your master to shape your CV for your dream job

How was your overall experience in the master?

It was really good, I learned a lot of valuable skills

What did you do in your international traineeship and how did you like it?

I went to a neuroscience conference in Vienna. It was a huge conference and it was very interesting. On the first day I entered in a hackathon which me and my group won. I won two tickets to a huge party organized by the conference. Me and Iris (IDA student I went with) went to the party and had a great time. Also, Vienna is an amazing city so I would recommend anyone to go there sometime.

Are you still in touch with other alumni students?

Yes, I made two very close friends (one of which is now my direct colleague!) and it is also always nice to see other IDA students. We also have a group chat with all IDA students of our cohort that are now pursuing a PhD at Tilburg University.

How did you experience the relationship with your teachers?

Very personal and they are very open to your input

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?

I knew I wanted to pursue a PhD but I thought I would want to end up in neuroscience. Turns out that meta-science (the study of science itself, often from a statistical perspective) is more than just a side-interest. I learned that I am really passionate about the field, and knew that I wanted to pursue it further. So my main topic of interest changed after having dipped my toe in both fields.

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