Supervisor of the Year
Supervisor of the Year is dedicated to all supervisors within the GSLS who play vital roles in daily supervision. Students can nominate supervisors for this award (details below). While one supervisor receives the SOY Award, the event primarily aims to foster knowledge sharing, mutual learning, and the celebration of outstanding supervision across our School.
In addition, Course of the Year is part of this event. Here, you have the opportunity to nominate a course within GSLS that significantly impacted your academic journey. Nominations are open for both compulsory programme-specific courses and elective courses.
How to nominate your supervisor or course?
As a student you can nominate your supervisor for the Supervisor of the Year award by filling out the form to nominate you supervisor. The open call runs until November 23rd, 2025. Until this day you can fill in the form in which you share the best practices, skills, and qualities of your supervisor that you think makes them eligible for deserving this award.
Furthermore, you can nominate one of your courses as Course of the Year by filling in the form.
Supervisors of the Year Winners
2025/2026 | Ewoud van der Lelij
The winner of the SOY Award 2026 is Ewoud van der Lelij. Van der Lelij supervises Master’s students within the GSLS programmes. Thanks to his excellent supervision, he was nominated individually by several students for this award.
2024/2025 | Christine Fox
The winner of the SOY Award 2024/2025 is Christine Fox. Fox is an assistant professor at the GSLS. She is an Academic Research and Writing Advisor and project lead for the GenAI Education initiative and coordinator of multiple courses.
2023/2024 | Robine Janssen
The winner of the SOY Award 2023/2024 is Robine Janssen. Janssen is a PhD candidate at Utrecht University. She supervises students from the Master's programme Regenerative Medicine. Because of excellent supervision, she has been nominated individually by three of her students for this award.
2022/2023 | Leanne de Jager
The winner of the SOY Award 2022/2023 is Leanne de Jager. De Jager is a PhD candidate at Utrecht University. She supervises students form the Master's programme Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences. Because of excellent supervision, she has been nominated indicidually by three of ther students for this award.
Course of the Year Winners
2025/2026 | Communicating Life Sciences
The winner of the Course of the Year Award 2026 is Communicating Life Sciences. This course is part of the GSLS Master’s programmes and is coordinated by Connie Engelberts. Due to its high-quality teaching and consistent positive student evaluations, the course was nominated for this award.
2024/2025 | Microbial Genomics
The winner of the COY Award 2024/2025 is the course Microbial Genomics. Students appreciated the course for its clear structure, balancing theory with practical exercises, and providing a genuine understanding of the subject. They praised the supportive and encouraging teachers for creating a welcoming environment where questions where encourage.
2023/2024 | Career Orientation & Professionalisation
The winner of the COY Award 2023/2024 is the course Career Orientation & Professionalisation. Despite the imminent discontinuation in its current format, the course received accolades for consistent outstanding feedback from students.
2023/2024 | Concepts in Cancer Biology
The winner of the COY Award 2023/2024 is the course Concepts in Cancer Biology. This course is recognized for its role in nurturing critical thinking and sparking enthusiasm for the intricate and vital realm of cancer biology.