The NVT PhD/MSc student days took place this year on June 1st and 2nd in the congress center Woudschoten in Zeist. The first day was a special day for PhD and MSc students studying and working in the toxicology field. The first day, themed ‘TOX, DRUGS & ROCK ‘N ROLL’, was organized by the PhD students Joost Melis (RIVM), Niek van de Pas and Jochem Louisse (both Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University / TNO Quality of Life). The day was sponsored by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) The second day all NVT members were invited and was organized by the NVT sections Teratology and Reproductive Toxicology and Toxicological Pathology.

Almost eighty PhD and MSc students attended the ‘TOX, DRUGS & ROCK ‘N ROLL’ days. The animated, interesting and sometimes shocking keynote lectures about forensic toxicology by Prof. dr. Uges and the toxicological aspects of cannabis use by Dr. Irma de Vries provided enough material for discussion and a good atmosphere. Besides the keynotes, high qualitative presentations, related to the theme, were given by nine PhD students. Additionally, a poster session for PhD and MSc students was held. After the TOX and DRUGS part of the day, the ROCK ‘N ROLL part took over, which was instigated by the cover rock band ‘Short tandem repeats’.

During the NVT PhD/MSc student days different awards were competed for. The Joep van den Bercken price, the price for the best PhD thesis in Toxicology, was awarded to Milou Dingemans (IRAS, Utrecht University). Wasma Alhusainy (Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University) won the award for the best PhD oral presentation and Anita Dankers (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radboud University) won the price for the best PhD poster presentation. The price for the best MSc poster presentation was awarded to Mohammed Ariful Islam (Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University). Laura Hondebrink (IRAS, Utrecht University) won the award for the best contribution to the scientific discussions. We would like to thank all the attendants for their participation and input and hope to see you next year!

Joost Melis, Niek van de Pas and Jochem Louisse