At the start of the new academic year, I have been with the University of Antwerp for nine years: five years as a bachelor and master student, and four years as a PhD student. By now, I would be considered a ‘very polished diamond’, to use our Dean’s terms.
During these years, the Faculty of Applied Economics offered a supportive environment to grow as a researcher. Initiatives such as Doctoral Day and Young Research Network were very helpful to meet PhD students across departments and learn from each other’s experiences. In an attempt to find out whether the grass is greener on the other side, I went on a research exchange at the University of Texas at Dallas last year.
This forced me to get out of my comfort zone, helped me think about research in a new way, and allowed me to meet with other experts in the field. At UT Dallas, I particularly enjoyed attending seminars where scholars from top universities presented working papers. I also took part in PhD courses where doctoral students discussed research ideas and professors shared tips and tricks on how to manage the research process.
These experiences further polished me as a researcher and helped me prepare for the next step in my career. Although a new international adventure awaits as a postdoc at the University of Warwick, the grass at our ‘Hof van Liere’ still looks —and will always look— very green to me.