Leaving the Lab, Examples of Non-scientific Careers in Life Sciences

26 November 2026 - Ghent

Professionals will talk about their careers, giving participants a better understanding of career options outside the lab.

Laurien Van Dyck | Portfolio Manager VIB Grand Challenges Program | VIB

Laurien Van Dyck is Project Portfolio Manager at VIB’s Grand Challenges Program. She has passion for science and a mission to bring science closer to society, through inclusive stakeholder engagement, science communication and societal impact initiatives. Laurien is a bioscience engineer who obtained her PhD in biomedical sciences at the lab of Diether Lambrechts (VIB-KULeuven Center for Cancer Biology), where she worked on one of the Grand Challenges projects. After her PhD, Laurien joined the VIB Grand Challenges Program and its mission to increase VIB’s societal impact. As project portfolio manager, Laurien is responsible for most of the human health Grand Challenges projects and takes care of the stakeholder engagement and outreach activities. Outside of work, Laurien is a vegetarian foodie and coffee lover who likes running, travelling, spending time with friends and family and is committed to environmental sustainability.

About VIB

VIB is a leading life sciences research institute in Belgium, operating in close partnership with the Flemish universities and renowned for its work in medical sciences, plant biology, microbiology, AI and biotechnology. Its mission is to push the boundaries of scientific discovery, transform it into disruptive biotech innovations and support Flanders’ life sciences ecosystem. VIB has launched over 40 spin-offs in the healthcare and agrifood sectors, attracting almost €2 billion in equity investment and has partnered intensely with private industry, generating over €350 million in income. VIB’s research has led to dozens of innovative products brought to market for medical, agriculture, and food applications, with many more in development. Eight of its spin-off companies have reached the clinical stage.

Evelien Van den Eeckhoudt | Business Development Manager | Labo Nuytinck

Leaving the lab doesn’t mean leaving science behind, and Evelien Van den Eeckhoudt is the living proof. Having trained as a Pharmaceutical Lab Technician and earned a Ba-Na-Ba in Health Management, Evelien embarked on a versatile career path that took her from life sciences headhunting to driving hard sales and process optimization in the waste management industry. Today, she leverages this cross-industry experience as Business Development Manager at Labo Nuytinck (part of Anacura), a role that perfectly synthesizes sales, laboratory & medical sciences, networking and businesss strategy. At BCF Career, Evelien will deliver an insightful pitch on navigating careers in Life Sciences away from the lab.

About Labo Nuytinck

Labo Nuytinck stands for craftsmanship, quality, and innovation. With a strong focus on expertise and personal service, Labo Nuytinck provides reliable solutions tailored to the needs of every client. Combining years of experience with a dedicated team, the laboratory brings together professional knowledge and a personal approach.

Michael Vlemmix | Partner at Gimv | Gimv NV

Scientist turned Venture Capitalist. Partner at Gimv's Life Sciences Platform with a focus on deal sourcing and execution. I focus on building and managing a portfolio of early-stage Life Sciences companies. I actively participate at the board level for several portfolio companies in the Biotech and Medtech sectors. Additionally, I bring valuable experience as a member of various audit and remuneration committees.

About Gimv

Gimv is a European investment company listed on Euronext Brussels that provides growth capital to entrepreneurial, mid-market businesses. It invests through four sector-focused platforms — Consumer, Healthcare, Smart Industries, and Sustainable Cities — plus a longer-horizon "Anchor" strategy for larger deals. The firm targets ambitious companies headquartered in the Benelux region, France, or DACH countries, with capital requirements ranging from €20–100 million for platform investments and €50–400 million for Anchor investments. It currently manages a portfolio of around 60 companies with a combined turnover of roughly €5 billion and more than 20,000 employees. With 45 years of experience, Gimv takes a patient, long-term approach built on a solid balance sheet, partnering closely with management teams to drive sustainable value creation.

FULL PROGRAMME HERE