100% VOLUNTEERS
Science meets Business is an initiative run completely by volunteers, all with an interest in science and business in and around Leiden. They make the cafes, competitions (like SmBPC and Gulliver) and other events and collaborations possible. We'd like to give them the well-deserved recognition:
Active volunteers
Bastiaan traverses the gap between science and business on a daily basis with his pharmaceutical startup SeraNovo, but has noticed that this is rarely the case in the BioScience Park. In his years of networking experience he has noticed this gap vanishes mysteriously when including both sides in an event, complemented by a couple of beers.
Board | Cafe | Werfpop
Bastiaan Kluft
Active since
2016
Blandine is fascinated by both the scientific and business worlds. She studied Biology and Business in Leiden and has been involved with SmB since 2014. Despite a busy working schedule, there is (almost) always time to join the SmB cafe!
Board | Cafe | Alumni
Blandine le Tallec
Active since
2014
I was born and raised in South Africa and moved to the Netherlands to pursue my passion for medical biology. My international upbringing has layed the foundation to interact and communicate with people from all walks of life. I have an incredible interest in the scientific field, in which I have obtained experience. I am an open-minded and dedicated individual, willing to rise up to any challenge. My goal is to stay curious and continously explore the field of science to acquire the necessary knowledge that will equip me for a prosperous future.
Christine Ammon
Active since
2021
Coen Breedveld is a science and business enthusiast. He has studied Chemistry in Leiden and is currently developing a diagnostic test to differentiate a viral from a bacterial infection with Levels Diagnostics.
Cafe | SmBPC | Gulliver
Coen Breedveld
Active since
2015
All over the place, that's how we'd best describe Frédérique. Next to a bachelors in Mathematics, masters in ICT in Business, multiple internships and projects, the one constant since 2013 has been SmB. She enjoys bringing people together and make science exciting for all.
Board | Cafe | Werfpop
Frédérique de Paus
Active since
2013
Creative and independent researcher with 4 years of experience in biomarker assay development in the oncology field. Passionate about project management, student supervision, oral and written scientific communication.
Cafe
Lise van Wijk
Active since
2020
Max believes that a business hides in every person. Besides uncovering more of his own business, his favorite thing is supporting others finding theirs.
Cafe
Max Green
Active since
2016
Researcher with medical background specializing in immunology and rheumatology.
Cafe | Science Quiz
Mikhail Volkov
Active since
2020
Am I a biologist? I studied a BSc and an MSc in Biology, but have always been most passionate about projects that are related to biology but are actually more engineering, computer science or physics.
Tobias Fecker
Active since
2021
During the day Vincent tries to help patients by producing drugs for rare diseases with his company Patient One. At night Vincent is a real event-organizing-enthusiast, organizing events with multiple organisations. Sinds 2015 Vincent is the chair of SmB, leading both the serious and not so serious activities of the foundation.
Board | Cafe | SmBPC | Gulliver
Vincent van der Wel
Active since
2015
Past volunteers
Special thanks to and in remembrance of our founder
Christiaan van Gorkum
On Friday the 30th of October 2015, our teammate Christiaan passed away – far too young – in a canoeing accident. He was the father of Science meets Business, the one who brought us together. He meant a great deal to the (scientific) community and can be proud of everything he has accomplished, bringing people together to inspire one another and to create great things.