CV Merle van Gelder

This was the very first research project that I started during my Masters programme in Biomedical Sciences. It was quite an experience, because the research group was literally on the move. I started out at the University Medical Center in Amsterdam, we spent a weekend on Texel and halfway my internship we relocated to the Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology.  Despite the logistic struggles I had a great time with this particular research group. My supervisor was a great guy who really challenged me to be innovative, creative and work independently. Mostly due to this internship it became clear to me that I wanted to pursue a career in research.  My research project was focused on the particular role of a substrate in Ras-MAPK signaling in Neuroblastoma. It has been the basis for all molecular techniques that I know of today. During my final presentation I could proudly announce that I finished 1,2 Western Blots on average a week for 7 months.