How did you experience the Research Days?

Sanyogita Khare – Poster presenter

I am Sanyogita Khare, a PhD candidate at Radboud University. My project focuses on the development of problematic social media use in adolescence.

Why did you decide to sign up for a poster presentation during the VNOP-CAS research days 2024? What did you hope it would bring you?

I signed up for a poster presentation to share some initial findings from a project I’m currently working on. I was especially interested in discussing the results along with possible interpretations, implications, and future directions with fellow researchers. The poster format is great for that—it encourages one-on-one conversations and often leads to more in-depth feedback.

What was your general experience with regard to presenting your work during the research days? To what extent did your actual experience match your expectation?

I really enjoyed presenting my poster—I had the chance to hear diverse perspectives and engage in some insightful conversations. It was encouraging to see that others were enthusiastic about the project and it was also great to learn about others’ research and see the variety of work being done in the developmental psychology field.

To what extent do you feel giving a presentation has contributed to your PhD project?

I received feedback and discussed fresh ideas that I can incorporate into my work moving forward. It was a great opportunity to think critically about my research and to connect with other researchers with similar interests.

Panel discussants

Prof. Dr. Carolien Rieffe was part of the panel discussion during the VNOP-CAS Research Days in 2024. Her research group wrote an article reflecting on a wonderful panel discussion regarding diversity and inclusion. You can read the article here.

Eline Meuleman – Attendee

I am Eline Meuleman, a PhD candidate at the VU Amsterdam on the Thriving Teens project. This project focuses on improving the mental health of young adolescents from a collective resilience perspective.

Have you ever attended the VNOP-CAS research days before? What was your general experience of the 2024 edition of the research days?

This was my first time attending the VNOP-CAS research days, and I really enjoyed the experience. The conference had a diverse and engaging program, bringing together researchers from various universities. I especially appreciated the dedicated PhD day, which provided opportunities to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and learn from each other’s research.

What was/were your favorite part(s) of the research days and why? Could you indicate what you liked about this part specifically?

One of my favorite parts was the workshop on science communication, where we learned how to pitch our research in a clear and engaging way within just a few minutes. I still use these skills to talk about my project. The keynote on achievement inequality in education was also inspiring, reinforcing the importance of equal opportunities. Another favorite part was of course the social activity with pizza and bingo. It was a great way to connect with fellow researchers in a more informal setting.

To what extent do you feel attending the research days has contributed to your PhD project?

The research days have been valuable for my PhD in multiple ways. The science communication workshop encouraged me to share my research more broadly, contributing to its societal impact. Additionally, the symposia and presentations provided inspiration for my own work, particularly regarding new methodologies and the latest insights in the developmental psychology field.

Iris Langereis – Attendee

PhD Candidate Iris Langereis from Leiden University attended the VNOP-CAS Research Days in 2023. She wrote a wonderful blog sharing her experience, concluding that she warmly recommends anyone to attend the VNOP-CAS Research Days in 2024. You can read her blog here.

Anke Visscher – Presenter

I am Anke Visscher, a PhD student at the Department of Developmental Psychology at Tilburg University. I study adolescents’ well-being during the transition from pre-vocational to vocational education.

Why did you decide to sign up for a presentation during the VNOP-CAS research days 2022? What did you hope it would bring you?

I am enthusiastic to go to the VNOP-CAS research days to share my latest results and to learn more about the latest (and innovative) research projects in the Netherlands and Belgium. Presenting at the VNOP-CAS research days was a great opportunity to share my knowledge and thoughts for improving (future) research. I was hoping that my presentation would lead to an informative discussion about my findings. Additionally, I was hoping that presenting my research would help me in expanding my network with researchers who are conducting comparable research.

What was your general experience with regard to presenting your work during the research days? To what extent did your actual experience match your expectation?

I really liked presenting at the VNOP-CAS Research Days. My experience exceeded my expectations, as both junior and senior researchers were involved in an inspirational discussion of my research findings both during and after my presentation. There was a pleasant atmosphere where all visitors were encouraged to ask questions, share ideas, and provide feedback.

To what extent do you feel giving a presentation has contributed to your PhD project?

Giving the presentation helped me to critically reflect upon my own project, results, and ideas. Presenting also further increased my enthusiasm about my upcoming (follow-up) projects, and about sharing my research findings and ideas with other researchers. By discussing my presentation with other researchers, I also gained inspiration and some tips and tricks. At last, it contributed to expanding my network.