Marlinde Schoonbeek is a PhD candidate at the Princess Máxima Center of paediatric oncology. She focuses on advancing current pre-clinical models for determining drug sensitivity in neuroblastoma and other pediatric solid tumors. She established ex vivo short-term cultures as well as organoid models to be compared with PDX models of the ITCCP4 consortium. Next to this, she improves these models by an advanced microscopy-based readout and using MicroOrganosphere technology. Next to research, Marlinde is a TOPX junior ambassador, and she enjoys organizing and moderating events and panel discussions. Within the Princess Maxima Center, Marlinde is a part of Ace, a community promoting authenticity for excellence in science by organizing role model lunches, coaching programs and workshops. Her colleagues call her pro-active, enthusiastic, and innovative.Before her PhD, she her Master’s program Cancer Stem cells and Developmental biology at Utrecht University (Cum Laude). She participated in extracurricular activities, including the Research and Education Council of the UMCU and chairing the Student Council. She began her career as an education developer for the bachelor’s program in Biomedical Sciences, focusing on data science, career orientation, student well-being, and professional skills.