Researchers sometimes report feeling nervous or unsure about networking and asking questions at a big conference like the EACR Congress. But sometimes one conversation can lead to an important career milestone, as one EACR member recently discovered.
For Mike van Heumen, a PhD candidate in oncology at Maastricht University, one thoughtful question during an EACR 2025 Congress roundtable discussion set off a chain of events that will define his next chapter.
At the EACR 2025 Congress in Lisbon, Mike took part in a Career Development session for early-career researchers, where small tables of participants discuss a common theme. Mike joined a table discussing combining clinical work with preclinical research. Among the 10–12 participants at the table, he raised a question on an important topic: how could a demanding clinical role realistically be combined with preclinical research? He was looking for a concrete example, and ideally, someone he could speak with further.
The answer came from a student from the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) who was sitting at the same table, and she mentioned that her own supervisor was doing exactly what Mike had in mind. “That immediately caught my attention,” Mike recalled.
After the session, Mike asked the student whether she could introduce him to her supervisor. One conversation led to another, and his evident enthusiasm made an impression. He was subsequently invited to Amsterdam for a job interview, which then led to an accepted job offer. In March 2027, after completing his PhD, he will join the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital as a resident.
Mike notes that the timing turned out to be ideal, as the extended timeline meant there was a flexibility regarding the starting date. The benefits of that connection have already begun to materialise, as now when he meets people from AVL/NKI, he can tell them he will be joining them soon. This has instantly opened doors and sparked further conversation (including practical tips on finding housing in Amsterdam!).
Mike’s background makes his trajectory a natural one. Having completed the master’s programme Physician-Clinical Investigator (designed specifically to bridge clinical practice and scientific research), his ambition has always been to work somewhere that genuinely integrates patient care with high-level science. For him, NKI/AVL represents exactly that model.
He is candid about what made the difference at the Congress: active, purposeful participation. “I always challenge myself to ask at least one question during a plenary session and to connect with at least two new people on LinkedIn,” he says. “It encourages active participation rather than passive attendance.” He also points to the value of sincerity: “Genuine enthusiasm makes a difference, people tend to appreciate sincere interest and engagement.”
What he is looking forward to most, when the time comes, is returning to clinical practice and bringing everything his PhD years have built with him. “I hope to use that combination to guide patients through one of the most difficult periods of their lives.”
Inspired by Mike’s story?
The EACR annual congress offers a warm and inviting atmosphere of learning and collaboration, with top-tier speakers presenting the latest data across the spectrum of cancer research. Whether you’re looking for scientific insight or your next career step, the conversations at the EACR 2026 Congress may form the connection you have been looking for. Click here to find out more about the EACR 2026 Congress.
