Advisory board
The PostdocNL Advisory Board was founded to provide strategic guidance, domain expertise, and external perspectives that help PostdocNL grow sustainably and be an effective advocate for postdoctoral researchers. The Advisory Board supports and guides our policy priorities, community outreach, and long-term organizational development.
Current Advisory Board members
Martijn van der Meer
Martijn is the chair of Promovendi Netwerk Nederland (PNN), the national representation and advocacy group for Dutch PhD candidates. He is currently pursuing his PhD at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication in Rotterdam.
Stephan Hacker
Stephan is chair of the Assistant Professor Network Netherlands (APNet), a national organisation representing assistant professors and early career faculty voices in policy discussions and academic governance. Stephan is assistant professor at the Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, where he leads research in chemical biology and proteomics.
Else Starkenburg — Advisory Board Member, De Jonge Akademie (DJA)
Else is a board member of De Jonge Akademie (DJA), an organization committed to securing the future of science and scholarship. Else is a Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Groningen. Her astrophysics research focuses on the earliest stars and the formation history of the Milky Way.
Melanie Schippling
Melanie is coordinator of the German Postdoc Network, where she supports national postdoc advocacy, network building, and strategic community initiatives.
Melvin Evers
Melvin is an industry expert and founder of Evers Genetic Therapy Consultancy. Melving previously obtained a PhD in genetics at Leiden University Medical Center where he also worked as a postdoc before moving into industry. Melvin brings non-academic and industry perspectives to the Advisory Board, helping bridge the gap between academic career development and broader professional pathways. His expertise supports PostdocNL’s mission to strengthen postdoc career opportunities inside and outside academia.
Vera Kemp
Vera is a former vice-chair and long-standing board member of PostdocNL. She is currently a senior researcher at the Leiden University Medical Center. Vera’s team work on oncolytic virotherapy. As former PostdocNL board member, Vera will ensure continuity and knowledge transfer across the board.
