Student assistant Carla Arnold on the work behind research funding

Anyone who walks into the building of the Ubbo Emmius Fund will soon meet the spontaneous Carla. Carla is studying for a Research Master's in Linguistics, Language and Cognition at the University of Groningen. Her interest in language began in the classroom, where she thought she wanted to convey her love of language. “After a week, I already knew: this isn't the place for me,” she says with a smile. “But I didn't want to have any regrets, so I gave it a month. After that, I knew for sure. Research suits me better.”

“I love the combination of theory and practice,” she says. “Exploring something and at the same time learning something new about how people understand language.”

A look behind the scenes

Within the UEF, Carla supports the administrative and organisational side of research funding. She calls it ‘the invisible work that keeps everything running’. ‘Researchers usually only see the application form,’ she explains. ‘But there is so much more to it than that. Through my work at the fund, I have a better understanding of how project funding works, who makes the decisions, where the money goes and how carefully those decisions are made. That is valuable knowledge for the future, because I would also like to do a PhD myself.’

The projects she works on show how broad the projects funded by the Ubbo Emmius Fund are. From new treatments for diseases and sustainable energy to the influence of digitisation and cultural-historical research. It is precisely this diversity that impresses Carla. ‘You see how much creativity and dedication goes into each project. I love that.’

The people behind the data

What touches her most are the stories of former scholarship recipients. For example, she worked on an overview of all scholarship recipients of the Eric Bleumink Fund (part of the Ubbo Emmius Fund) since 2000.

‘You see people who studied in Groningen thanks to a scholarship and now work as doctors or researchers in their own countries. A whole new world has opened up for them. Sometimes I just got tears in my eyes when I read those stories. A scholarship like that makes such a big difference!’

Groningen as home

Although Carla comes from South Africa, she now feels rooted in Groningen. ‘Of all the cities I have lived in, this is really the nicest. I feel safe here. And as a researcher, it is an inspiring place to be.’

In her spare time, she relaxes with friends, playing rugby, reading books or crocheting. ‘I recently made a hat for a colleague's dog,’ she says with a laugh. ‘With holes for the ears, of course.’

What sticks

When asked what she hopes people will feel when they read about the UEF, Carla doesn't have to think long. ‘That they will be inspired. That they will see how science really makes a difference.'

Anyone who hears her speak notices how sincere her interest in the work of others is. It is precisely this curiosity that makes us so happy to have her as a colleague!