V.E. Heininga

Personal statement

My interest in research arose when writing my first bachelor thesis involving Forensic Social Network Analyses. Intrigued by social network dynamics and scientifically challenged, I applied for the ICS Research Master Programme with integrated PhD training. My passion for research really flourished during this master and especially during my masters thesis project. Through this experience I have learned that my curiosity, creativity and perseverance fit well to the challenges research can offer. Moreover, I have become increasingly aware of the fact that expertise as well as enthusiasm are both crucial for being a good scientist. As a PhD student, I am very fortunate to have excellent supervisors who help me build a solid foundation in psychology and psychiatry. In the future I would like to continue to accumulate my knowledge on positive emotions, gain more experience in research, and, most of all, continue my passion.