Every great journey begins with a single step, and every inspiring story starts with a simple passion.
Embark with me on the journey that led to the creation of NextMinds, a platform designed to empower, inspire, and guide early-career scientists.
Altruism
Childhood instinct: a heart for helping others
Growing up in the beautiful landscapes of Switzerland, I discovered my passion for helping others at a very young age. One of my earliest memories is from when I was around five or six years old. Having learned to read early, my teacher assigned me the unique task of helping my classmates learn to read too. I can still clearly remember the young Isabelle encouraging her school friends in their reading journey.
Like most people growing up, I was unsure of my career path. I contemplated studying Psychology, fascinated by the human mind and its intricate processes, but the uncertainty of career prospects held me back. Medicine seemed exciting, but I was apprehensive about the challenges of medical studies. My decision eventually landed me in Pharmacy — which I considered at that time a perfect union of my passion for science and helping people.
Climbing the academic ladder and discovering my true passion
Pharmacy turned out to be a gateway to another passion — research. I discovered the world of research and bioanalytical chemistry during my Master’s Thesis. At the end of my studies, I decided to embark on a PhD journey instead of finding a job in a pharmacy, an unexpected turn from my initial goal. I pursued a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the more I delved into the world of research, the more intrigued I became. This marked the beginning of my academic career.
After my PhD, I moved to the Netherlands for a postdoc. As I climbed higher, reaching my current position as Assistant Professor, I realized something important. It wasn’t the prestige or personal accomplishment that fueled my drive. It was my passion for teaching, supervising students, mentoring young scientists, transferring knowledge, and creating opportunities for the next generation of talented minds. My passion was, and still is, to give young talents the tools they need to define and achieve their career goals.
Knowledge is power, but sharing knowledge lights the path for others. My mission at NextMinds is to empower you on your own journey to success.
The Minds of early-career researchers in motion
Driven by this passion and the desire to support more people, I set up NextMinds. This platform allows me to extend my reach beyond borders and assist anyone in academia, especially early-career researchers, to navigate the often complex and challenging academic system. With my experience in both supervising (international) PhD students and having been a PhD student myself, I am well-positioned to understand your potential struggles and help you find the tools and skills you need to thrive in the initial steps of your career.
At NextMinds, we offer digital courses designed to help demystify the academic world and provide you with extremely relevant information from an insider’s perspective. Our courses equip you with the tools needed to navigate every step of your academic journey, from securing a PhD position, promoting successfully, to preparing for post-PhD steps.
I also conduct interactive workshops focused on crucial aspects of academic life, such as mental health in academia, preparing for post-PhD career steps, and enhancing productivity. In these sessions, you’ll gain practical strategies to maintain well-being in the high-pressure academic environment, explore diverse career paths beyond the PhD, and learn effective techniques to boost your research productivity. These workshops provide a supportive, collaborative space, where participants can share their experience in a safe space.
Discover and grow your talents with my guidance
I’m thrilled to share that I’ve become a certified coach and counselor, having completed my training at the Academie voor Coaching en Counseling in The Netherlands. This certification has further enhanced my ability to guide you on your journey, whether through one-on-one coaching, group workshops, or webinars.
I am dedicated to sharing my knowledge and experiences in a safe, nurturing, and heart-warming environment. Every interaction I have with my audience — each one of you — is a chance to learn, grow, and create.
Welcome to NextMinds.
Mentorship
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