PNN Welcomes Its New Board

As of 2 October 2026, PNN has a new board comprising ten PhD candidates with diverse backgrounds and expertise. Six new members have joined the board, while Maartje Zweers has taken over as Chair. Three existing board members (Aida, Anna, and Karin) will continue their work to represent and support PhD candidates across the Netherlands.

PNN is pleased to welcome Julia Houben, Shachi Mokashi, Raghavendra Reddy Manda, Lars Bakermans, Amos Pomp and Tanya Lee to the board. Together with the continuing members, they will work to strengthen the position of PhD candidates and advocate for better working conditions, social safety and research environments across the Netherlands.

The new board composition is as follows:

• Maartje Zweers – Chair
• Julia Houben – Vice Chair and Secretary
• Shachi Mokashi – Treasurer
• Raghavendra Reddy Manda – Commissioner of External Affairs
• Lars Bakermans – Labour Conditions (Universities)
• Amos Pomp – Labour Conditions (Hospitals)
• Aida Gholami – Labour Conditions (External, International and Scholarship Doctoral Candidates)
• Anna Heerdink – Social Safety
• Karin van Vuuren – Research Affairs
• Tanya Lee – Events

The new board will continue PNN’s work to promote fair employment contracts, improve access to mental health support and advocate for transparent institutional policies. Through its national network and advocacy efforts, PNN aims to ensure that the concerns and interests of PhD candidates are represented in discussions shaping doctoral education and research in the Netherlands.

Over the coming weeks, the new board members will introduce themselves on PNN’s LinkedIn page. Follow along to learn more about the people working to advance the interests of PhD candidates nationwide.

Thank You to Our Departing Board Members

PNN would also like to express its sincere gratitude to the departing board members for their enthusiasm, commitment and dedicated service in advocating for PhD candidates in the Netherlands. Their contributions have helped advance PNN’s mission and strengthen the representation of doctoral researchers.

We thank Martijn van der Meer, outgoing Chair; Emma de Brabander, outgoing Treasurer and portfolio holder for Labour Conditions (Universities); Andrew Elrod, outgoing Commissioner of External Affairs; and Aranka van Wesemael, outgoing portfolio holder for Labour Conditions (Hospitals).

We wish them every success in their future endeavours and thank them for the time and energy they have devoted to PNN.

With its new board in place, PNN looks forward to continuing its work towards a fairer, safer and more supportive environment for all PhD candidates in the Netherlands.