Meike van der Heijden
@meikeesther.bsky.social
Thinking about work, life, and balance. Looking for answers in the cerebellum.
Assistant Professor @ Virginia Tech
www.vanderheijdenlab.com
Assistant Professor @ Virginia Tech
www.vanderheijdenlab.com
Same same but different
A mole, a cat, a dog, a turkey, a swallow, a sparrow, a barn owl, a very large duck, and a dormouse.
--
This isn't a children's book but a short essay I wrote about my view on the cerebellum.
vanderheijdenlab.com/resources/
A mole, a cat, a dog, a turkey, a swallow, a sparrow, a barn owl, a very large duck, and a dormouse.
--
This isn't a children's book but a short essay I wrote about my view on the cerebellum.
vanderheijdenlab.com/resources/
November 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Same same but different
A mole, a cat, a dog, a turkey, a swallow, a sparrow, a barn owl, a very large duck, and a dormouse.
--
This isn't a children's book but a short essay I wrote about my view on the cerebellum.
vanderheijdenlab.com/resources/
A mole, a cat, a dog, a turkey, a swallow, a sparrow, a barn owl, a very large duck, and a dormouse.
--
This isn't a children's book but a short essay I wrote about my view on the cerebellum.
vanderheijdenlab.com/resources/
This is just a tired academic once again pleading with the scientific community to use only sans-serif fonts in their papers, grants, and seminars.
This is how Times New Roman looks to me; on screens, the words actually dance.
This is how Times New Roman looks to me; on screens, the words actually dance.
November 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
This is just a tired academic once again pleading with the scientific community to use only sans-serif fonts in their papers, grants, and seminars.
This is how Times New Roman looks to me; on screens, the words actually dance.
This is how Times New Roman looks to me; on screens, the words actually dance.
So proud of Alyssa Lyon passing her prelim exam today.
She joined my lab for a rotation when it was quite empty. She helped build the lab while also building an exciting project.
Today, she got six enthusiastic thumbs up from her committee, a big vote of confidence that she’s actually doing it!
She joined my lab for a rotation when it was quite empty. She helped build the lab while also building an exciting project.
Today, she got six enthusiastic thumbs up from her committee, a big vote of confidence that she’s actually doing it!
September 26, 2025 at 12:10 AM
So proud of Alyssa Lyon passing her prelim exam today.
She joined my lab for a rotation when it was quite empty. She helped build the lab while also building an exciting project.
Today, she got six enthusiastic thumbs up from her committee, a big vote of confidence that she’s actually doing it!
She joined my lab for a rotation when it was quite empty. She helped build the lab while also building an exciting project.
Today, she got six enthusiastic thumbs up from her committee, a big vote of confidence that she’s actually doing it!
Can one even science out loud without gesturing louder?
September 17, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Can one even science out loud without gesturing louder?
M&M sharing size - lab edition.
August 22, 2025 at 11:24 PM
M&M sharing size - lab edition.
@marthastreng.bsky.social & @heatherdsnell.bsky.social, look what my phone reminded me of today. This photo was clearly taken before we had *seen* things 😂
So grateful y’all are part of my village.
So grateful y’all are part of my village.
August 7, 2025 at 11:25 AM
@marthastreng.bsky.social & @heatherdsnell.bsky.social, look what my phone reminded me of today. This photo was clearly taken before we had *seen* things 😂
So grateful y’all are part of my village.
So grateful y’all are part of my village.
End of summer poster presentation by three fabulous summer students. They earned a 🥇poster prize in the visualization category and a 🥉poster prize in the overall category. So proud of all they learned and accomplished this summer 🤩
August 1, 2025 at 9:35 PM
End of summer poster presentation by three fabulous summer students. They earned a 🥇poster prize in the visualization category and a 🥉poster prize in the overall category. So proud of all they learned and accomplished this summer 🤩
This what 35 looks like:
Our toddler woke up at 6a to wish me happy birthday. I then made her three types of breakfast, she ate none. She wanted to play on the lawn and say hi to the dogs, but there were no dogs. She ate my breakfast instead. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Also my flowers:
Our toddler woke up at 6a to wish me happy birthday. I then made her three types of breakfast, she ate none. She wanted to play on the lawn and say hi to the dogs, but there were no dogs. She ate my breakfast instead. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Also my flowers:
July 15, 2025 at 11:20 AM
This what 35 looks like:
Our toddler woke up at 6a to wish me happy birthday. I then made her three types of breakfast, she ate none. She wanted to play on the lawn and say hi to the dogs, but there were no dogs. She ate my breakfast instead. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Also my flowers:
Our toddler woke up at 6a to wish me happy birthday. I then made her three types of breakfast, she ate none. She wanted to play on the lawn and say hi to the dogs, but there were no dogs. She ate my breakfast instead. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Also my flowers:
I am deeply honored to be selected for the @dystoniafoundation.bsky.social Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. I am looking forward to supporting the dystonia community on the MSAC for the next four years.
June 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I am deeply honored to be selected for the @dystoniafoundation.bsky.social Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. I am looking forward to supporting the dystonia community on the MSAC for the next four years.
Lab cart is starting to look fancier every day
April 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Lab cart is starting to look fancier every day
Lots going lately. So went to escape cell phone service for a while.
February 10, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Lots going lately. So went to escape cell phone service for a while.
It’s my favorite when I see friend’s papers in my Google scholar feed 😍
Also highly recommend reading this one if you want to see some beautiful images 🤩
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Also highly recommend reading this one if you want to see some beautiful images 🤩
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
January 30, 2025 at 2:40 AM
It’s my favorite when I see friend’s papers in my Google scholar feed 😍
Also highly recommend reading this one if you want to see some beautiful images 🤩
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Also highly recommend reading this one if you want to see some beautiful images 🤩
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Our town’s snowplow trucks got renamed. Here are the winning names:
My favorite is “control salt deleted”
My favorite is “control salt deleted”
December 30, 2024 at 2:01 PM
Our town’s snowplow trucks got renamed. Here are the winning names:
My favorite is “control salt deleted”
My favorite is “control salt deleted”
I wrote some hand-outs to help the trainees in my lab prepare their talks and manuscripts. I now also uploaded them on our website.
Most important tips:
* when in doubt, cut it out (and what to keep)
* always be writing (and how to do that)
vanderheijdenlab.com/resources/
Most important tips:
* when in doubt, cut it out (and what to keep)
* always be writing (and how to do that)
vanderheijdenlab.com/resources/
December 27, 2024 at 12:57 AM
I wrote some hand-outs to help the trainees in my lab prepare their talks and manuscripts. I now also uploaded them on our website.
Most important tips:
* when in doubt, cut it out (and what to keep)
* always be writing (and how to do that)
vanderheijdenlab.com/resources/
Most important tips:
* when in doubt, cut it out (and what to keep)
* always be writing (and how to do that)
vanderheijdenlab.com/resources/
Happy holidays everyone!
Very happy with these presents under the tree 🌲
Very happy with these presents under the tree 🌲
December 25, 2024 at 4:04 PM
Happy holidays everyone!
Very happy with these presents under the tree 🌲
Very happy with these presents under the tree 🌲
Radically enjoy weekends to explore our new home town and the family.
December 24, 2024 at 5:27 PM
Radically enjoy weekends to explore our new home town and the family.
Actually collecting data and having new, unexpected, and at times beautiful findings.
December 24, 2024 at 5:27 PM
Actually collecting data and having new, unexpected, and at times beautiful findings.
Starting new, fruitful, and fun (!) collaborations with scientists I admire.
www.jneurosci.org/content/44/4...
www.jneurosci.org/content/44/4...
December 24, 2024 at 5:27 PM
Starting new, fruitful, and fun (!) collaborations with scientists I admire.
www.jneurosci.org/content/44/4...
www.jneurosci.org/content/44/4...
Developing the grad neuro-anatomy / neural systems course into a class I really enjoyed teaching and the students seemed to enjoy.
December 24, 2024 at 5:27 PM
Developing the grad neuro-anatomy / neural systems course into a class I really enjoyed teaching and the students seemed to enjoy.
Nurturing a compassionate and generous lab culture with curious young scientists.
vanderheijdenlab.wordpress.com/we-are/?prev...
vanderheijdenlab.wordpress.com/we-are/?prev...
December 24, 2024 at 5:27 PM
Nurturing a compassionate and generous lab culture with curious young scientists.
vanderheijdenlab.wordpress.com/we-are/?prev...
vanderheijdenlab.wordpress.com/we-are/?prev...
Husband delivered with the early Christmas presents
December 14, 2024 at 10:41 PM
Husband delivered with the early Christmas presents
Robotics next 🤖 ?
December 13, 2024 at 1:10 PM
Robotics next 🤖 ?
Kristen gave a killer rotation presentation today. The video of the little dancers 🩰 totally stole the show and underscored why studying the little brain 🧠 🤏 during development is so important for understanding how our brain coordinates precise movements 👯♀️
December 11, 2024 at 6:34 PM
Kristen gave a killer rotation presentation today. The video of the little dancers 🩰 totally stole the show and underscored why studying the little brain 🧠 🤏 during development is so important for understanding how our brain coordinates precise movements 👯♀️
Facebook reminded me that this was just six years ago. It seems both ages ago and just like yesterday.
December 7, 2024 at 2:45 PM
Facebook reminded me that this was just six years ago. It seems both ages ago and just like yesterday.
Writing this piece was even more special as we watched our own infant daughters develop into little people and while we were (are still?) navigating the non-linear dynamics of being baby PIs ourselves.
November 27, 2024 at 7:12 PM
Writing this piece was even more special as we watched our own infant daughters develop into little people and while we were (are still?) navigating the non-linear dynamics of being baby PIs ourselves.