Starting March 2025, I’m incredibly grateful to have been hired as a postdoctoral researcher by Dr. Roseann Peterson at the Institute of Genomics in Health (IGH) at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America. Within this remote position I am hosted by the University Medical Center Groningen, in the Netherlands, where I am associated with the lab of Dr. Hanna van Loo at the University Center of Psychiatry (UCP). This is a major milestone in my academic journey, and one that’s been in the works for quite some time.
This opportunity was born out of both planned and serendipitous networking moments. Inspired by the hybrid work I had been doing during the pandemic at Helmholtz Munich as part of my PhD, I was intrigued by an offer from dr. Peterson to work for her in a temporary position between PhD and Postdoc as a Research Associate to gain experience. This position would be fully remote, and I could work from anywhere I wanted, including my home country the Netherlands, which I was hoping to move back to. This aligned with a connection I had built with Dr. van Loo in a previous collaboration and application to her group of which the timing with funding had been just a little off. What started as a conversation with dr. Peterson at a 2022 conference—more than two years before my PhD contract ended—planted the seed for this position.
The current postdoc position is a huge reminder that in academia, conversations matter. Even when the timing isn’t quite right, or you feel like you don’t fully fit the criteria yet, reaching out and showing genuine interest can go a long way. If someone believes you’re a good fit and is excited about your work, they may just find a way to make it happen.
This postdoc is the result of persistence, flexibility, and a lot of relationship-building over time. It’s not always a straight path—and often not a geographically convenient one either—but it’s incredibly rewarding to see your network, your efforts, and your values align into something real.
So… Let’s Talk About Networking
If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t be where I am in academia without networking. And I don’t mean ‘networking’ where it’s about schmoozing the right people. I mean real networking: showing up, being genuinely curious, building relationships, and staying in touch. Networking is not favoritism. That’s efficiency. It saves time, it builds better teams, and it often leads to a better fit for both sides.
Networking isn’t magic—it’s talking to people. At conferences, online, at work. It’s about being visible and interested. A simple “What are you currently working on?” or “How did you get into this field?” can open up a conversation. And yes, sometimes that conversation can eventually lead to a job—months or even years down the line. This current job didn’t even exist in its current form until we started talking about what might be possible.
If you are looking for some tips on where to start, I would say to start with your current network, there’s more gold there than you think! E-mail someone you met at a conference, send a message to a fellow friend in the field who might know some collaborators or PI’s that are not in your own network.
Second, in this digital age, online presence really matters. LinkedIn is underrated (especially connecting to people higher up the academic ladder with a personalized message). Twitter/Bluesky are job boards in disguise. Follow people whose work excites you. Comment on their posts. Be curious and visible.
Of course, flexibility is part of the deal too. The job might be great but not in your dream location. Or the project might be slightly outside your field. In my case, I ended up moving countries and working remotely across time zones. But I’m doing science I care about, in the country I want to live in, with colleagues I truly admire. That’s a huge win.
Looking Ahead
I’m beyond excited to be part of these two excellent labs and institutions. I’ll be diving into international collaborations and datasets, exploring trans-ancestry approaches in psychiatric genetics, and hopefully starting to shape my own research line under the supervision of Dr. Peterson and Dr. van Loo.
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