Appendix A 325 A5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS My PhD trajectory over the past three years has been quite unconventional, not least because the research not only took place during a pandemic and focused on a novel pathogen. The fact that I was completing my medical specialty training in public health medicine added further complexity. Despite these challenges, this period of my career has also been immensely enjoyable – and for this, I am indebted to many individuals both at and outside of work. I would like to thank the many study participants of the VIS/RECoVERED cohort. You were willing to give up so much of your time to attend study appointments, fill in long questionnaires and provide numerous samples. Not only did this require a real belief in the importance of our work, but also trust in the research team. Maria – you are an inspiration to me and I really feel very lucky to have had you as my PhD supervisor. Not only are you an expert in your field, but you conduct your work with poise and a strong moral compass, always making sure that the team feels valued and heard. Thank you for guiding me through various challenges, and encouraging me to take a moment to celebrate my achievements. I hope that we can continue to keep in touch between Norway and Thailand. Menno – your calm demeanor always helped me to keep things in perspective. It has been wonderful to have the opportunity to learn from your experience and knowledge in virology and global health. Tjalling – you provided me with advice and guidance even before I arrived in the Netherlands. I really admire that you always keep a helicopter-view of what is truly important, and have a real love for continuously learning new things. It was also reassuring for me to know that I worked alongside someone who could empathize with being a ‘third culture kid’. Thank you to the members of my PhD committee, for taking time to critically assess my PhD thesis and for taking part in my defence. It is a real privilege to be in your presence today. To my paranymphs, Hugo and Anouk. There is not doubt that my PhD experience would have been far less enjoyable if I hadn’t shared it with both of you. We have been able to support one another and celebrate key milestones together, despite the numerous lockdowns, during our PhD journeys. I feel honored to have you both stand by my side during my defence this afternoon and I look forward to us reminiscing about our time as PhD students for many years to come. To Jane, Marianne, Annemarieke, Marc and Leeann – study nurses for the VIS study – you were at the heart of the study’s success. You ensured that our study participants felt valued and supported, and always had a smile on your face even when working
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