infinite Beauty - Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen
infinite Beauty - Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen
infinite Beauty - Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen
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Culinaire Chemie<br />
Fr<strong>en</strong>ch fries, Archive ‘Koetjes <strong>en</strong> Kalfjes’<br />
10<br />
origin - universiteit leid<strong>en</strong><br />
project running here, which is also a collaboration of<br />
the University and as many as eight companies.”<br />
During our dinner and conversations, a professional<br />
photographer interrupted us to take some pictures of<br />
this culinary ev<strong>en</strong>ing. Professor Danhof turns out to<br />
be camera-shy, but after a few shots he’s satisfied with<br />
his portrait picture. After finishing the main course, we<br />
received the dessert-m<strong>en</strong>u.<br />
Our sweet-toothed professor<br />
chose the crème brûlée<br />
with vanilla ice cream<br />
while Origin settled for a<br />
chocolate cake with chocolate<br />
sauce and a mango<br />
parfait. We continued our<br />
conversation while waiting for dessert.<br />
“The Bio Sci<strong>en</strong>ce Park<br />
in Leid<strong>en</strong> is very unique. With the LACDR,<br />
CHDR, LUMC and TIPharma involved, there<br />
is an <strong>en</strong>ormous cluster of pharmaceutical<br />
sci<strong>en</strong>ces.” With a wink he tells us that there is a reason<br />
that TIPharma is located here in Leid<strong>en</strong> and not elsewhere.<br />
“The University of Leid<strong>en</strong> is involved in 17 of<br />
‘… my att<strong>en</strong>tion has shifted from<br />
research to more managerial tasks.<br />
i <strong>en</strong>joy it all.’<br />
the 50 research programs that are curr<strong>en</strong>tly running in<br />
TIPharma.”<br />
Speaking of research, obtaining a PhD has its b<strong>en</strong>efits.<br />
Still, many stud<strong>en</strong>ts have doubts about starting on a<br />
PhD. We asked him if he would recomm<strong>en</strong>d stud<strong>en</strong>ts<br />
to do a PhD.<br />
“It dep<strong>en</strong>ds on what you want: If you are interested<br />
in a career in research, it’s necessary.” However,<br />
Origin comm<strong>en</strong>ts that there are no big pharmaceutical<br />
companies in the Netherlands with a Research &<br />
Developm<strong>en</strong>t (R&D) departm<strong>en</strong>t. Professor Danhof<br />
explains this with the curr<strong>en</strong>t tr<strong>en</strong>d. “Nowadays, you<br />
notice that big pharmaceutical companies buy knowledge<br />
from smaller companies. ‘To-BBB’, a company in<br />
the Bio Sci<strong>en</strong>ce Park, is a good example of this tr<strong>en</strong>d.<br />
The original ideas are thus formed in small companies<br />
and bought by big pharma, since they have the money<br />
to continue the ideas to a clinical trial and finally, into<br />
a product. So there are R&D departm<strong>en</strong>ts, but mainly<br />
in the small companies.”<br />
Professor Danhof is a very<br />
busy man and therefore<br />
Origin won<strong>der</strong>s what he<br />
does to unwind after a long<br />
working day.<br />
“As I m<strong>en</strong>tioned, I used to<br />
play the viola.” Origin expresses<br />
their admiration,<br />
and jokes that a novice playing the viola sounds somewhat<br />
like stringing a cat. “Well, I try to make it sound<br />
slightly better than that.”, the professor says smiling.<br />
“For a long time I’ve played in many orchestras. During<br />
my time as a stud<strong>en</strong>t, but also after that.” Playing<br />
the viola requires daily practice; the busy professor<br />
doesn’t always have time for that. However, he has<br />
found another passion in playing golf with his wife on<br />
Sundays. “Before you are allowed to play golf, you have<br />
to pass a theoretical exam and a practical exam. Good<br />
hand-eye coordination is of vital importance. Playing<br />
golf is just as difficult as playing the viola.”, the professor<br />
admits.<br />
Hearing that, Origin is pretty sure never to be able to<br />
pass the exam required to play on a large golf course.<br />
Professor Danhof continues talking about this new passion:<br />
“It’s won<strong>der</strong>ful, because you are outside all day.<br />
Wh<strong>en</strong> I’m playing, I don’t have time to wan<strong>der</strong> off with