Cisca Wijmenga was appointed rector magnificus of the University of Groningen in September 2019 and, after she stepped down from the role four years later in September 2023, she elected to not return to the lab. She endorses now the role of a mentor and a coach rather than actively pursuing research questions, as she is interested in shaping the next generation of scientists.
“I really like it,” she explains. “It allows me to help scientists get the best out of themselves.” With more than thirty years of experience in the scientific field, Wijmenga understands that the research ecosystem has become increasingly competitive, with success rates of national grants ranging between 10 and 15% in the Netherlands and restricted sources of funding. “Early career researchers are pushed towards competing with their peers. I want them to be able think about what really drives them, about the scientific questions they want to explore. And this is where I step in.”
An EMBO Member since 2022, Wijmenga enjoys helping people apply to the EMBO Fellowship Programme so they can get the best out of their application. She also leads interviews with potential EMBO Postdoctoral Fellows and enjoys talking about research.
“These conversations with fellows remind me of the daily interactions in the lab,” Wijmenga notes. “Young scientists keep your mind sharpened; they ask all the questions that, we, researchers in more senior roles don’t think about anymore as we consider them taken for granted.”
In addition to career safety, Wijmenga also strives to foster a space where researchers can connect easily with their peers. During her time leading the Department of Genetics at the University of Groningen from 2007 to 2017, she transformed a largely domestic group of students and faculty members with only one international member into one representing over 28 nationalities. “It helps everybody”, she reflects, “especially in learning from different scientific backgrounds and processes. Science should be a safe haven. I always wanted my group and department to reflect that.”
