Benelux Chapter

Dear BeNeLux Chapter, Members

I trust that you and your contacts are safe and exiting the pandemic restrictions.
I write to happily put forward my candidacy for the election of BeNeLux chapter chair.  

I would be thrilled to have an opportunity to assist you and pledge myself fully to take MCAA Benelux Chapter to the next level of success. I was awarded fellowship as an ESR from CATSENSE-ITN for the years 2014-2017. Since then I have been participating in MCAA events and have pitched my ideas on all levels of MCAA to push and meet strategically the objectives of MCAA. Thanks to MCAA for awarding me the microgrant to participate in GA 2017, where I was able to network well with fellows from other chapters, identify areas where I can contribute and understand better the functioning and internal organisation of MCAA. Following this I enhanced my involvement in GA 2018. As a volunteer with GA 2018 task force, I was able to recruit sponsors and receive generous sponsorship from my personal network in Belgium.

My experience as MCAA member clearly makes me aware of the big responsibility and challenges that I will inherit. I assure you that I will carry forward the set agenda of previous chair bearers that includes networking, career guidance, active indulgence and spreading awareness of MCAA activities. Besides adding new Marie Curie fellowship recipients as chapter members, I would be very interested in extending our current activities to local PhDs as much as possible. I will also work closely with my collaborations and new MCAA board towards making MCAA and/or BeNeLux events financially self-reliant.

My role as ambassadors of my prior affiliations with MITACS (Government of Canada) and Amity University (India) enriches me with intercontinental support and the capacity to handle a big network of high quality members.  I am very social, full of enthusiasm and ambitious in thinking. I want to emphasize that with my empathy and human connection skills I will prove to be a tremendous asset in steering BeNeLux chapter ahead. I look forward to receiving your endorsements for my candidacy.

Thanking you all for your time and kind support in advance.

Thanks and best.

I am Elvira Bombino. I just started my 4th year of PhD in enzyme engineering at the University of Groningen. I am a PhD student in the Marie Curie program in the Es-Cat ITN.
During my PhD I always tried to be active in scientific communication. I was co-founder and event manager of Pint of Science Groningen 2018-2019.
As Event Manager, I had to take care of speakers, locations, advertising and sponsors, with the help of two others volunteers. Different scientific communication events took place in Groningen during the year, and finally we had a main event in May. The May’s event was
quite a success, with 24 speakers (either in English or Dutch language), in three locations, for three evenings.
In my last year, I am ready for a new challenge. I would like to be more active in the Marie Curie Benelux Chapter. That’s why I decided to apply for the Chair position of the BeNeLux Chapter. I think this would be a great opportunity for my personal growth, and I hope to be useful for the continuous grow of the BeNeLux Chapter, with the help of other volunteers.
Organize events for the BeNeLux Chapter related to personal growth, future career and life after PhD seems to fit very well with this part of my life.
Best regards,
 

First of all, I hope you all are safe and in good health during this difficult time.

I am Sajid Mohamed and am currently a researcher at Eindhoven University of Technology. I would like to run for the position of the MCAA Benelux Chapter Chair. I have been the Secretary of the MCAA Benelux Chapter for the last two years. It was during this time that the MCAA Benelux Chapter was awarded the 'Best Chapter Award' during the 2019 MCAA Annual Conference & General Assembly in Vienna, 2019.

I am highly motivated and would like to continue the work of the Benelux Chapter with an emphasis on:
1) networking, skill development and training events catering to the needs of the MCAA members in the region. E.g. networking events during PhD days, Researchers' night and regional conferences, MSCA IF proposal writing workshop (the call is now open) and so on;
2) strengthening collaboration with regional non-profit organisations; and
3) supporting MCAA members in the region. I sincerely request your support and well wishes for my candidacy.

Thank you and stay safe