Hello, we are the new Gopher board for
2025/2026!
Our board members are:
Chair - Aaltje van der Molen
PR and Research Communication Manager - Gipsy Urrutia
Manager of Educational Events - Memoona Ahmad
Manager of Recreational Events - Ishita Vaishkiar
Treasurer - Melissa González
Secretary - Stephanie Gonzalez
Website & Social Media Manager - Jane Siwa
We are all motivated volunteers working together to help you to make the most of your time as a PhD. Looking forward to many fun activities, learning experiences and good times!
Meet our board members
Aaltje van der Molen
Chair
Hi everyone,
I am Aaltje, a second year PhD student at the faculty of Science and Engineering. My research focuses on fabricating scaffolds for plant cell encapsulation.
When I am not in the lab, I like to go to the gym, read fantasy/scifi novels, and play the guitar. This year, I am the chair of GOPHER.
I look forward to seeing you at our next events!
Gipsy Urrutia
PR and Research Communication Manager
Hi everyone!
I am Gipsy, a second-year PhD student from the Bernoulli Institute. I moved from Chile to the Netherlands to pursue my research, which focuses on creating digital heart twins from exercise-stress MRI data.
Outside of my research, I love travelling and discovering new places, and I also enjoy playing table tennis. This year, I am the Public Relations Officer of GOPHER, a role that fits me well as I enjoy connecting with people and communicating our activities.
I hope to meet you soon at one of our events!
Memoona Ahmad
Manager of Educational Events
Greetings everyone!
I’m Memoona, a second-year PhD student from the Chemical Engineering department at the Zernike Campus. My research focuses on turning waste paper into useful platform chemicals for everyday products — basically giving trash a second chance at life.
Outside the lab, you can find me listening to music, dancing when the mood hits, or exploring something new just for fun. That excitement for learning is exactly what led me to my role as the Manager of Educational Events at GOPHER.
Looking forward to seeing you at one of our events — preferably when I’m not chasing stubborn molecules.
Ishita Vaishkiar
Manager of Recreational Events
Hi Everyone,
I am Ishita, a first year PhD student at UMCG. My research focuses on circulating free DNA profiling in T-cell Lymphoma.
Outside of work, I love cooking and dancing. I also enjoy exploring new places and trying different activities, leading me to my role as the Manager of Recreational Events at GOPHER.
Looking forward to seeing you at our coming events!
Melissa González
Treasurer
Hi everyone,
I’m Melissa, a second-year PhD student from Chile, studying the relationship between substance use and high school social networks at the Sociology department.
My research covers a lot of interesting topics, such as the variables related to having a crush on someone, dating and being influenced by friends and crushes towards substance use.
Some of my hobbies include traveling, dancing and watching series. As GOPHER’s treasurer I manage the funds, and make sure you can enjoy affordable events throughout the year. I will be very happy to meet all of you at our events!
Stephanie Gonzalez Secretary
Hello! My name is Stephanie and I’m currently in the second year of my PhD studies at the Faculty of Science and Engineering. My research involves developing computational spectroscopy methods applied to photosynthetic systems: both plants and bacteria.
We warmly welcome you to all our GOPHER events.
Jane Siwa Website & Social Media Manager
Hello everyone, I am Jane, a second-year PhD student at the Sociology Department, BSS. I am originally from the Philippines where I worked as a researcher and studied Demography. In RUG, my research focuses on strategies of workers to improve working conditions.
Outside of research, I enjoy cooking and listening to music. This year, I will manage our social media and website. Visit our website and follow our socials to get the latest events of Gopher! I look forward to having fun with all of you!