Chris de Bruin
Biography:
Chris de Bruin is a lecturer at the Instituut voor Onderwijs en Orthopedagogiek and a trainer at TLN at Hogeschool Utrecht. Trained as a psychologist and with years of experience as a trainer and educator, he has combined his expertise in education with a deep interest in student wellbeing and study delay. In 2017, he founded StudieGeluk, an organization to support higher-education students facing both practical and psychological barriers, which led to the development of De StudieHuiskamer, a group-based coaching model offering structure, connection, and personalized guidance for long-term students. Initially piloted at Hogeschool Utrecht in collaboration with the Student Support Centre, the concept grew rapidly and has since been implemented at multiple universities of applied sciences across the Netherlands. De Bruin now focuses on training study coaches and exporting the StudieHuiskamer model nationally, while continuing to advocate for student wellbeing, inclusivity, and sustainable approaches to academic support in higher education.
Workshop: Under Pressure: thriving in the high-stakes world of research.
Are you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply uninspired in your work or studies? In just 45 minutes, this energizing session dives into the root causes and expressions of stress, low mood, and procrastination—and offers practical, psychological strategies to overcome them. Discover how to regain control over your emotions and career path by exploring both the mental and behavioral aspects of your challenges. Learn how to reconnect with what drives you, so that studying and working become enjoyable and meaningful again.
This is not just a talk—it’s a reset. A short, powerful intervention to help you feel more in charge, more focused, and more inspired.
Dr. Janeska de Jonge
Biography:
Janeska de Jonge holds a PhD in Medical Sciences (cum laude), combining strong academic credentials with a deep commitment to life-sciences entrepreneurship. As Director of the BioBusiness Masterclass, she leads an intensive program that equips scientists, researchers and early-career professionals to translate innovation into mission-driven ventures.
Workshop: Entrepreneurship in Life Sciences: Lessons from the BioBusiness Masterclass.
Entrepreneurship is an essential driver of innovation in the life sciences — transforming scientific discoveries into real-world health and sustainability solutions. This interactive workshop introduces participants to the BioBusiness Masterclass, a unique training program where over 40 seasoned life sciences entrepreneurs, experienced lecturers, and professional coaches share their expertise. These
experts act not only as instructors but as gateways to an active biotech network, providing continuous guidance and support to aspiring founders and industry professionals.
After a short introduction to life sciences entrepreneurship and the Masterclass format, a former participant will present their journey of building a biotech startup — offering insights into both the challenges and rewards of launching a company in this dynamic sector. The session concludes with an open Q&A, providing a chance to discuss career development, biotech innovation, and how to kick-start your own entrepreneurial path.
Stefan Braam
Stefan Braam is the Startup Incubation Lead at UtrechtInc, the startup incubator of Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht. With a background in Business Administration from HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, he has co-founded a startup himself and worked in several digital businesses before joining UtrechtInc. There, he helps scientists and entrepreneurs develop the mindset, skills, and strategies needed to turn innovative ideas into impactful companies.Workshop: Turn your research ideas into real-world impact!
Join our Introduction to the Business Model Canvas (BMC) workshop at the Infection & Immunity Symposium and discover how scientists think like entrepreneurs. In this interactive session, you’ll team up with fellow master students to design a BMC for your own imaginary startup — turning scientific insights into solutions that could change the world.
