Practical
Tuesday, 3 June, 2025
- 16:00 until 18:00
VUB Main Campus Etterbeek
Pleinlaan 2
1050 Elsene
Venue: Pilar BOX
Pleinlaan 2
1050 Elsene
Venue: Pilar BOX
Free of charge
Vrije Universiteit Brussel is pleased to invite you to the Doctoral Derby finals on Tuesday 3 June. This event is the last milestone of a three-month trajectory of nine PhD candidates and postdocs who have learned to communicate their complex scientific topic in an engaging and accessible way.
- Enjoy live pitches by our finalists from across the three Doctoral Schools.
- Take part in selecting the audience favorite with your vote.
- Enjoy some great research, great company, and of course, some tasty refreshments.
This event is more than just a competition. It's a testament to the incredible work being done at VUB in science and science communication. No matter your background, you'll find something to spark your curiosity and leave you impressed.
The finalists
- Karen Danielyan - Brussels Photonics (B-Phot)
Safer airplanes for everyone - Lynn De Mey - Molecular Imaging and Therapy (MITH)
Employees empower! "Photoflash" - Paulien Leemans - Microbiology (MICR)
Masterchef for tiny creatures - Pauline Bardet - Brussels Center for Immunology (BCIM) & Department of Bio-engineering Sciences (DBIT)
One block at a time: piecing together the immune response in lung cancer - Lotte Vermeire - Studies in Media Innovation and Technology (SMIT)
Behind the screens: understanding online data helps us both online and offline - Vincent Vangrunderbeek - Sustainable Materials Engineering (SUME)
Outsmarting rust with AI: predicting steel's silent enemy
Training programme for doctoral students
The Doctoral Derby is an initiative of VUB's Doctoral Training Programme. This programme offers more than 2,000 doctoral students a structural framework for developing research and teaching skills. They can attend free seminars and numerous workshops, for example on presentation techniques, project management, academic English or career coaching. Thanks to the programme, they acquire skills that add value to their PhD careers and their future careers inside or outside academia.
Read more about earning a doctorate at VUB Are you a doctoral student at VUB? Discover our training programme.
The world needs you
This initiative is part of VUB's public programme: a programme for everyone who believes that scientific knowledge sharing, critical thinking and dialogue are an important first step to create impact in the world.
As an Urban Engaged University, VUB aims to be a driver of change in the world. With our academic edcuational programmes and innovative research, we contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and to making a difference locally and globally.
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