Imke on a multidisciplinary environment

How did you come to pursuing your research topic in Nijmegen? 

During one of my internships as a speech and language therapist in the Bachelor’s programme ‘Speech Language Therapy and Audiology’, I treated people with aphasia. Treating their communicative difficulties left me with many questions. This experience motivated me to contribute to research in the field of Linguistics. I strongly believe that better theoretical understanding and new insights in the research field of linguistics can eventually have clinical implications.  Because of that, I started a Master’s program in Linguistics, with a specialisation ‘Language and Speech Pathology’ at Radboud University. In September 2021, I started my PhD project in Nijmegen. 

What are some of the highlights of your doctoral life so far?

A highlight of my PhD is the opportunity to conduct research within a multidisciplinary environment. Due to the nature of my project which combines theoretical insights with clinically orientated research, my supervision team is formed by experts in diverse fields. This allows me to establish collaborations across institutes and research groups namely at the Centre for Language Studies and the Donders Institute. Being affiliated with the IMPRS Graduate School offers me plenty of learning opportunities in the form of courses and conferences. 

What advice do you have for peers or those considering doctoral studies? 

My advice would be to choose a research topic that you are enthusiastic about. For me, for example, this is research that combines theoretical insights with clinically orientated research, with potential implications for clinical populations. During your PhD you can further pursue your interests and discover new ones. I realised that I enjoy combining research with teaching.