infinite Beauty - Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen

Culinaire Chemie
French fries, Archive ‘Koetjes en Kalfjes’
10
origin - universiteit leiden
project running here, which is also a collaboration of
the University and as many as eight companies.”
During our dinner and conversations, a professional
photographer interrupted us to take some pictures of
this culinary evening. Professor Danhof turns out to
be camera-shy, but after a few shots he’s satisfied with
his portrait picture. After finishing the main course, we
received the dessert-menu.
Our sweet-toothed professor
chose the crème brûlée
with vanilla ice cream
while Origin settled for a
chocolate cake with chocolate
sauce and a mango
parfait. We continued our
conversation while waiting for dessert.
“The Bio Science Park
in Leiden is very unique. With the LACDR,
CHDR, LUMC and TIPharma involved, there
is an enormous cluster of pharmaceutical
sciences.” With a wink he tells us that there is a reason
that TIPharma is located here in Leiden and not elsewhere.
“The University of Leiden is involved in 17 of
‘… my attention has shifted from
research to more managerial tasks.
i enjoy it all.’
the 50 research programs that are currently running in
TIPharma.”
Speaking of research, obtaining a PhD has its benefits.
Still, many students have doubts about starting on a
PhD. We asked him if he would recommend students
to do a PhD.
“It depends on what you want: If you are interested
in a career in research, it’s necessary.” However,
Origin comments that there are no big pharmaceutical
companies in the Netherlands with a Research &
Development (R&D) department. Professor Danhof
explains this with the current trend. “Nowadays, you
notice that big pharmaceutical companies buy knowledge
from smaller companies. ‘To-BBB’, a company in
the Bio Science Park, is a good example of this trend.
The original ideas are thus formed in small companies
and bought by big pharma, since they have the money
to continue the ideas to a clinical trial and finally, into
a product. So there are R&D departments, but mainly
in the small companies.”
Professor Danhof is a very
busy man and therefore
Origin wonders what he
does to unwind after a long
working day.
“As I mentioned, I used to
play the viola.” Origin expresses
their admiration,
and jokes that a novice playing the viola sounds somewhat
like stringing a cat. “Well, I try to make it sound
slightly better than that.”, the professor says smiling.
“For a long time I’ve played in many orchestras. During
my time as a student, but also after that.” Playing
the viola requires daily practice; the busy professor
doesn’t always have time for that. However, he has
found another passion in playing golf with his wife on
Sundays. “Before you are allowed to play golf, you have
to pass a theoretical exam and a practical exam. Good
hand-eye coordination is of vital importance. Playing
golf is just as difficult as playing the viola.”, the professor
admits.
Hearing that, Origin is pretty sure never to be able to
pass the exam required to play on a large golf course.
Professor Danhof continues talking about this new passion:
“It’s wonderful, because you are outside all day.
When I’m playing, I don’t have time to wander off with