PhD Community
A supportive and inclusive environment where emerging researchers can exchange ideas, share experiences, and build meaningful multidisciplinary and international collaborations early in their careers
PhD Community
About us
The RiMS PhD Community is an international initiative that brings together PhD candidates, early career researchers, and healthcare professionals who share a common goal: advancing rehabilitation research in Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
We provide a supportive and inclusive environment where emerging researchers can exchange ideas, share experiences, and build meaningful multidisciplinary and international collaborations early in their careers. By connecting peers across disciplines and countries, the PhD Community strengthens the next generation of researchers shaping MS rehabilitation.
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➜ Who participates
The PhD Community is open to:
- PhD candidates working in MS rehabilitation
- Early career researchers such as postdoctoral researchers within one year of obtaining a PhD
Members come from diverse professional backgrounds, including physiotherapy, movement and sports sciences, rehabilitation medicine, psychology, speech and language therapy, and related disciplines. This diversity creates a rich, interdisciplinary network for learning, collaboration, and professional development.
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➜ Our goals
The PhD Community is committed to:
- Sharing clinical and scientific expertise among early career researchers
- Supporting professional and academic development in MS rehabilitation
- Fostering collaborations across the RiMS network
Call for Applications
PhD Community Co-Chair
Join RiMS and help lead the PhD Community.
Application deadline: Friday, 25 September 2026, 23:00 CEST
Apply for the positionMeetings
The PhD Community is active throughout the year and offers both in-person and online opportunities to connect:
- Annual RiMS Conference
A dedicated in-person gathering where PhD candidates and early career researchers can meet, present their work, exchange ideas, and find inspiration among peers at a similar career stage. - RiMS Webinar Series
Each year, the PhD Community hosts one RiMS webinar.
The 2026 webinar, “The Next Generation: PhD Perspectives in MS Rehabilitation”, took place on 15 January 2026 and highlighted emerging research and innovative perspectives from early career scientists. Watch the recording here (RiMS members only).
Chairs
Felipe Balistieri Santinelli, MSc
Chair
Felipe Balistieri Santinelli is a final-year PhD candidate at Hasselt University (Belgium) in Rehabilitation Sciences. With a background in Sports Science and Movement Science, his research focuses on biomechanics and neurorehabilitation, particularly gait biomechanics, walking-related fatigability, and neural activity in people with MS and Parkinson’s disease. As a person living with MS, Felipe is also actively engaged in advocacy aimed at improving quality of life for people with neurological conditions.
Co-chair
Arianne Gravesteijn holds a BSc in Physiotherapy and an MSc in Human Movement Sciences. She is a postdoctoral researcher at Amsterdam UMC, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, with a research focus on exercise physiology and neurodegeneration. As Chair of the RiMS PhD Board, she is dedicated to enhancing collaboration, visibility, and scientific growth among early career researchers in MS rehabilitation.
PhD Defense Calendar
To stimulate knowledge exchange and career development, the PhD Community maintains a PhD Defense Calendar. This includes:
- Recently completed PhD defenses, with links to theses when available
- Upcoming PhD defenses, including links to attend online when possible
This initiative promotes visibility of early career research, encourages peer support, and strengthens connections across the RiMS network.
Interested to join?
Become a member of RiMS and get immediate access to our community. Find more info here: