PE&RC in the Spotlight

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Every month we put a PE&RC member in the spotlight. This month we are getting to know Baltasar (Balta) is the new chair of the PPC. He’s a biochemist working at the Department of Plant Sciences at WUR and loves coffee!

What are you passionate about in your research?
I’m working on Petunias under salinity stress to improve consumer traits. I love the idea of finding solutions to help final consumers. Like, imagine going to buy some flowers and saying: “hey look they are applying this technique that I helped to make it possible.”

What has been your favorite part of your PhD so far?
I would say the best part so far is having students. I love the idea of helping other students to think as future scientists.

If you could change one thing at your university, what would it be?
Oh, definitely the coffee brand. I like coffee, but the one here is not the best to be honest. But, not everything is lost; we have a few good places to get a good cup of coffee.
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What should all 1st year PhD candidates know?
1. Free coffee is not the best.
2. Talk with your peers about your problems and solutions. It is really useful because you are not the only one starting a PhD. The solutions of others could be helpful for you or help you figure out your own solutions. 

What do you currently do to de-stress?
Oh, I love this question! I love to longboard (it’s like a skateboard but longer); I just go for a ride to clear my mind... but sometimes I get a little creative, like carrying my Christmas tree last year :)

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Hobbies?
Let me share a bit about one of my hobbies. I love coffee so much that time ago I took a barista course. You can create a perfect coffee if you mix that with my biochemist background. But preparing coffee is not just a hobby; I also drink several cups a day. Preparing a perfect cup of coffee for others is also my hobby; I love the idea of asking others about their likes and making a coffee for them. PS: The gif where I’m on the longboard with the coffee machine was a day when I brought my new machine to the office.

What are your plans as chair of the PPC?
I have so many, but let’s start small. I want to expand the PPC by inviting new PhD candidates; I want to use different approaches from different backgrounds, institutes, and universities to make it dynamic and even more open to the whole PE&RC community. Also, we have had Covid measures for a while; I’d like to keep us social. Even if we can’t meet in big groups, let’s find alternatives to keep us social and stay healthy too.