Student story Kerstin

I decided to begin studying Biology at the Wageningen University, because of my broad interests this study fitted perfectly. Moreover, the broad outline of the bachelor gave me time to make up my mind about the direction I wanted to go in my master. Finally, I chose Ecology and performed multiple research projects, all on very different subjects: Dog behaviour, evolutionary concepts and the ecology of the European bison. In the summer of 2020, I graduated and could call myself an Ecologist. I was eager to also perform a PhD after my studies, because I enjoyed doing my thesis projects. In the end, my first job interview (after many job applications) also resulted in my very first real job: a PhD position at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOOKNAW) in Wageningen to research food web relations in an aquatic system in the Netherlands: the Oostvaardersplassen. I was so excited that I could start on this subject and keep my broad interest. I look into the entire foodweb, from small insects and nutrients to geese and red deer. My experience with thinking about ecological processes, doing statistical analysis and my enthusiasm finally resulted in this job, even though I never followed an aquatic course during my studies. Luckily I was able to catch up in the past year. In the future I hope to obtain my PhD degree and to travel for a few months. Until then, I fortunately still have enough time to determine if I want to stay in science or follow another path, as there are still a lot of options after doing a PhD!