As part of the HORIZON Europe MSCA INCLUE Project, I had the opportunity to supervise a graduation internship in Analytical Chemistry. The internship was carried out at Nijhuis Saur Industries by Simon van Es, a student from HAN University of Applied Sciences.
For me personally, this experience represented an important milestone in my PhD journey. It was my first time supervising a student from start to finish on this topic that I have been carrying for so long. I have had the opportunity to teach in different universities and countries, yet this experience was unique. Interestingly, Simon and I are essentially the same age, which initially felt somewhat unusual. Stepping into the role of supervisor while guiding someone who felt more like a peer required a balance between responsibility and collaboration. Fortunately, Simon approached the experience with great professionalism and respect, which quickly created a productive and comfortable working dynamic between us.
From the beginning of his internship, Simon demonstrated a strong sense of curiosity and motivation. Electrochemistry was a new field for him, yet he approached it with remarkable enthusiasm and independence. Through self-directed learning and consistent effort, he quickly developed a solid understanding of the techniques and principles needed for his work within the project. In the laboratory, Simon worked with impressive organisation and attention to detail. One moment that stood out during his project was when he confidently argued that a particular experimental parameter would significantly influence the results. He supported his reasoning with sound scientific arguments, and as the experiments progressed, it became clear that his hypothesis was correct. This moment reflected not only his technical ability but also his growing confidence as a young researcher.
Beyond his scientific contributions, Simon integrated seamlessly into the research environment at Nijhuis. His positive attitude and openness helped him connect easily with colleagues across departments. He also became a natural point of connection among the group of interns, contributing to a collaborative and friendly atmosphere within the team.
For me, as a PhD researcher, supervising Simon was both a learning experience and a very rewarding one. Mentoring someone through the process of designing experiments, interpreting results, and presenting their work offered a new perspective on research and highlighted the importance of guidance and support in scientific development.
Seeing Simon grow over the course of his internship, from exploring a completely new field to confidently presenting his findings, was genuinely inspiring. Experiences like this remind us that research projects are not only about scientific results but also about developing the next generation of scientists.
I am very proud of what Simon accomplished during his time with us, and I look forward to seeing where his future career will take him. If you are looking for someone with analytical chemistry knowledge and who knows about water treatment, sludge treatment, electrochemistry and metal removal, Simon may be the one you are looking for!