NVMS & DEI

NVMS stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). We are committed to promoting fair treatment, equal opportunities, representation, and the full participation of all people in our society. In particular, we aim to empower groups that are underrepresented or marginalized because of their identity, background, or physical abilities.

To support these goals, we established a NVMS DEI task force. Meet and welocme our new members:

Christel Kuik (TNO): I am a Christel and I work as scientist at TNO. Here we work at the interface of research, technology, and real-world impact. Inclusivity and diversity matter to me because strong science, safer workplaces, and meaningful innovation emerge when different perspectives, backgrounds, and ways of thinking are valued.

Berta Cillero Pastor (MERLN): my name is Berta and I am an Associate Professor at cBITE, where I lead the research on spatial omics for regenerative medicine, and I am an active board member of the NVMS. As FEM Chair and MERLN PhD Coordinator, I am also passionate about creating an environment where people from different backgrounds and career stages feel welcome, supported, and heard. DEI is key to building a stronger, more open scientific community where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive.

Elena Giaretta (Utrecht University): I am Elena, PhD candidate at the Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics lab of Albert Heck (Heck lab). Originally from Italy, I have become a European citizen. I have lived in France, Germany Switzerland and now the Netherlands experiencing the diverse environment our field of mass spectrometry has to offer. I love interacting with scientists, and through doing so, I have identified opportunities to improve inclusivity and create safer spaces for all. That is why I am part of the NVMS DEI taskforce to offer support to the best of my capabilities. I am always open to chatting about how we can advance our community!

Jan Commandeur (MS Vision): During my internship at FOM AMOLF I was first introduced to mass spectrometry, and it was love at first sight. I ended up spending 9 years there as a group technician in several departments, learning a lot about the various technical aspects of analytical equipment. This served me well when I started as a mass spec field service engineer at Micromass, which later became Waters. The company grew rapidly after the introduction of the Q-Tof, and before long I found myself in middle management, overseeing service activities across Europe. In 2004 we founded MS Vision, and I picked up my old trade as a service engineer. Today I’m in charge of our R&D department where we focus on MS technology development in close cooperation with various academic groups in Europe. In my personal development, I found that technology is important but in the end it’s all about people. Good teams can do incredible things when people feel it’s OK to show initiative or express concerns and team members have complementary skills and insights. As a member of the DEI board I want to promote awareness of unconscious bias which sadly I have witnessed all too often.

Anastasia Tzasta (Radboud University Medical Center): My name is Anastasia, and I am a PhD candidate at Radboudumc with a chemistry background, currently working on mass spectrometry-based tools for the diagnosis and monitoring of haematological cancers. Entering a new scientific community as a female international researcher, navigating professional expectations, cultural differences, and a steep learning curve all at once, is genuinely challenging and often something you have to work through without much guidance. I joined this task force because I want to help create a more inclusive environment and connect people to find the support they need.

Saar van der Laarse (Thermo Fisher Scientific): intro text coming soon 🙂

More info about the background of our task force members, our mission, and planned activities will follow soon. Please stay tuned! If you want to talk to us reach out via: dei@nvms.nl