Utrecht University appoints Celia Berkers as vice-dean of research

Celia Berkers started this month as Vice-Dean Research of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. She has been appointed for a 4-year term, succeeding Dick Heederik. Celia has a long history at Utrecht University and has chaired the Department of Cell Biology, Metabolism & Cancer within the Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences since 2020.

Dean Debbie Jaarsma is very pleased with Celia's appointment. "In my opinion, Celia is really the right woman in the right place. The various dossiers she will be working with as Vice-Dean for Research fit very well with the issues she has pushed hard for in the past, such as her activities in the area of talent policy within The Young Academy and her close involvement in the national discussions on 'Recognize and Value'."

Celia: "I am very excited to join the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine as Vice-Dean for Research. For me, making more connections between our research themes and departments presents a wonderful challenge, ultimately strengthening our research across the board - from basic to clinical. Fortunately, we can build on the diverse and strong research program that has been established within the various themes in recent years. In the coming years, I would like to commit myself to the faculty and its staff, and to further shape our research together."

Celia Berkers began her PhD at the Netherlands Cancer Institute after studying chemistry at Utrecht University. She received her PhD with honors and returned to Utrecht after two years at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow. In 2013, she became an independent group leader in the Department of Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics at Utrecht University. Celia was appointed professor of Metabolomics at the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine and Beta Sciences in 2018 and has chaired the Department of Cell Biology, Metabolism & Cancer within the Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences since 2020.

This article was first published on 16 December by Utrecht University.