Author: frankklont

Thirty months have passed since I started in my current position, and I realized earlier this month that it was time to schedule a personal awayday, or ‘heidag’ in Dutch. A quick glimpse at my agenda, however, taught me that there was not a single appointment-free working day until Christmas. The awayday thus became an … Continue reading Track 46 – Drive (Incubus)

“Hi Frank, how are you doing?““Good man. How are you?”“Great. Long time, no see!” This typical ‘how are you (doing)’ question was the start of a great talk with one of my dearest friends, with whom I spent numerous hours on and off the lab during my PhD project. And for the first time in … Continue reading Track 45 – Are you really okay (Sleep Token)

Looking back at my life exactly five years ago,-I remember leaving behind my partner and grandmother in Groningen, of whom the latter passed away six months later;-I remember leaving behind a healthy family in other parts of the Netherlands, which, unfortunately, is not as complete as it was back then;-I remember leaving the Netherlands without … Continue reading Track 44 – Pride & joy (Stevie Ray Vaughan)

Exactly five years ago I obtained my PhD degree which marked the start of my postdoctoral career. Back then, I could have imagined that my research activities would change over time, but likely not as much as they did. In the years before obtaining my PhD, for example, I spent more than 20 hours per … Continue reading Track 43 – Fire (The Pointer Sisters)

-What if I had not listened to my parents who told me repeatedly between 2002 and 2007 to consider studying Pharmacy?-What if I was assigned a Bachelor’s research project within the Department of Pharmaceutical Biology or the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, which were the other two mentions on my top 3 preference list … Continue reading Track 42 – What if (Creed)

“This actually took a lot of courage, you know, to step up to you. But do you remember who I am?” It is an hour before midnight when I hear these words passing the lips of a person who hesitantly approached me during a social gathering of the conference I am attending. I immediately turn … Continue reading Track 41 – After midnight (J. J. Cale)

In a previous blog post describing the (lengthy) timelines of a recent grant application, I mentioned that I may have a mild version of an imposter syndrome which could be a potential topic of a later blog post. Well, this is not a ‘potential topic’ anymore as today’s blog post makes it a ‘current topic’ … Continue reading Track 40 – We’ve Only Just Begun (The Carpenters)

Suddenly, I feel my heart rate increasing, and the nerves are kicking in. The current speaker moves on to the conclusion part of his talk meaning that I am up in a few minutes. He actually still has ten minutes for his presentation according to the schedule, but it seems like he will wrap up … Continue reading Track 39 – Under pressure (Queen & David Bowie)

It is not solely because of the (considerable) height difference between us that I look up to my brother. It is also because he is three years older than I am and thereby has been taking many steps in life before I do. Upon reaching adulthood, for example, he went studying at a University, he … Continue reading Track 38 – Brother (Steve Vai)

Imagine a stack of thousands of A4 sheets with each sheet containing a patient code and the results of various blood and urine tests carried out in the previous twenty-four hours. This stack is sorted based on the names and addresses of the general practitioners in the Northern Netherlands, and it is your job to … Continue reading Track 37 – Turning point (Toto)

It is the first working day of a new year, and I woke up in my own bed in the Netherlands next to a very pregnant partner and a very angry cat waiting to be fed. In the past days, I did not need to worry about train delays or plane cancellations, as I did … Continue reading Track 36 – Changes (David Bowie)

Opinions can change. Perspectives can change. People can change. I can change. Fortunately. The reason for addressing change in this blog post is that I am missing Geneva more and more these days. Although when I had just arrived in the Netherlands last February, I repeatedly stated that I was glad to be back here … Continue reading Track 35 – Miss you (Incubus)

“… and look where he ended up!” said the head of my department to the PhD students during a group meeting earlier this week. While speaking these words, he pointed at me and referred to an experience I had just shared about my first PhD publication getting published only one year before the end of … Continue reading Track 34 – Smalltown boy (Bronski Beat)

There are few things sweeter than the breakfast menus I devoured during this year's vacation, and some of my blog posts are among them. "I am thankful for…" "I feel blessed by…" "I am privileged to…" I can understand that some of my contributions were too sweet to your taste. So let me confess: I … Continue reading Track 33 – Thank you (Dido)

When summarizing my ‘perfect life’ as portrayed on my social media accounts, I would use the words science, sports, and nature. Nearly all my photos and messages match with one of these keywords, and most of them match with a combination of two or even three of them. Taking the photo of Lac Léman which … Continue reading Track 32 – No quick fix (Nada Surf)

An important responsibility of academic scientists is to secure the funds needed for carrying out research projects. No money, no science, no job. Quite significant portions of a researcher’s time are actually spent on writing research proposals which are subsequently sent to funding organizations that evaluate them. These organizations also make decisions (or coordinate decision … Continue reading Track 31 – Autumn leaves (Johnny Mercer)

The desire to play doctor during a person’s childhood is quite often an early sign that this person will pursue a career as healthcare provider. I can only imagine that this sign and the corresponding developments are amazing things to witness as a parent. I can also imagine that it is less amazing for a … Continue reading Track 30 – Dream on (Yngwie Malmsteen & Ronnie James Dio)

For the past 32 months, flights from Geneva to Amsterdam brought me to my family, and flights from Amsterdam to Geneva brought me home. But on this day, the 28th of January in the year 2022, the big blue bird that is going to fly me to the Netherlands will be bring me home. To … Continue reading Track 29 – Farewell ballad (Black Label Society)

The year 2007 was quite a trivial one for me in terms of teenage traumas. For example, I thought that I was in love with someone, which, in retrospect, I should have kept to myself. But unfortunately, I did not do that, and A.B. told me that I was more of a friend to her … Continue reading Track 28 – Doin’ it right (Daft Punk)

There are numerous benefits of gaining international research experience for (young) scientists. At least, that is what older scientists kept telling me when I was a PhD student. Now, exactly thirty months after I told my family that I would move to Geneva, which I subsequently did one week (!) later, I am (still) so … Continue reading Track 27 – Loser (Ayreon)

Early in the morning on January 28, 2020, I returned to work after an amazing week of hiking on the Cape Verde islands Santo Antão and São Vicente. That vacation was perfect for refueling my batteries after some stressful months, and I came back from it full of energy. Soon after my arrival, however, my … Continue reading Track 26 – Celebration (Kool & The Gang)

I might have mentioned in conversations or in blog posts that I want to pursue an ‘academic career’ and that this ambition is an important reason for me to work in Switzerland at the moment. However, I hardly ever concretize my ambition, and I should probably not assume that everyone knows what an academic career … Continue reading Track 25 – Stay around a little longer (Buddy Guy)

…beep beep….beep beep….beep beep… My alarm is telling me that the morning has broken, that I should rise and shine, that I should not be lazy and stay in bed. I thus jump out of bed, and my two feet land on a balance which has been watching over me during my sleep for the … Continue reading Track 24 – Lazy (Deep Purple)

It was mid-April 2009 when a younger, bulkier, and hairier Frank entered the student laboratories of the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy. He was about to start off a one-week training program to become a ‘student teaching assistant’ during the analytical chemistry practicals for first-year Pharmacy students. He was looking forward to assisting in this … Continue reading Track 23 – ABC (The Jackson 5)

I was a happy kid growing up in a warm, loving family, and my childhood was fortunately not affected by serious health issues or financial stress. And even if such factors were present in my early life, my wild imagination would have prevented me from noticing them. Any childhood hospital stay or visit, for example, … Continue reading Track 22 – Happy Kid (Nada Surf)