Dur-e-Nayab Waheed, Project Lead for HPV-related Projects at the University of Antwerp, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“4 years and 4 months – on 15.10.2025, I marked a new beginning and the end of an incredibly enriching journey by completing my PhD on HPV vaccination programs in low-resource settings alongside full-time projects.
My interest in HPV programs began during my master’s in Vaccinology in 2017 with a simple project – little did I know that it would become my core passion.
I am deeply grateful for the work I got to do over these past years and for the mentors I had the privilege to learn from. After an incredible journey, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to those who guided and supported my PhD.
Thank you to my supervisors, Alex Vorsters, for your trust, support, and for creating space for me to grow and thrive; Christopher Morgan, for your inspiring mentorship and for constantly fueling my curiosity; and Pierre Van Damme, for your steady guidance and encouragement that helped me reach the finish line.
I got to learn from some of the best in the field, and I will always cherish these foundational years.
I also extend my heartfelt thanks to internal jury members (Heidi Vandebosch and Guido Van Hal) and my external jury members (Marleen Temmerman and Sharon Hanley) for your thoughtful review, feedback, and for being part of this milestone.
This journey has been inspired by the work of many and supported by even more – my colleagues, collaborators, and peers who guided, challenged, and encouraged me along the way.
And on a lighter note, to my family and friends who supported me, understood my absence at so many events. This win is especially dedicated to my mother, who has always inspired my journey as an independent woman and my pursuit of passion in science.
I’ll be able to share a public soft copy of my thesis in the coming months once all data is published. In the meantime, if you’re interested, I can share a confidential copy.
Feeling incredibly thankful and proud of this chapter.”
More posts featuring Dur-e-Nayab Waheed.
