EDUCATION
Doctorate Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Supervisors: C.F.M. van Lieshout G. H. J. Haselager, & A. H. N. Cillessen
Thesis: ‘Development of dyadic peer relationships: Friendships and antipathies’
Date of viva: 3 April 2008, Cum Laude
Master Master of Arts in Psychology, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey
Thesis: ‘Parenting styles, attachment and school achievement’
Supervisor: E. Alp; March 2002
Bachelor Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey, June 1998
High School Üsküdar American Academy, Istanbul, Turkey, June 1994
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
2018 - present Professor Neuroscience of Social Relations
Developmental and Educational Psychology Unit
Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
2008 - present Senior Researcher
Leiden Institute of Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden, the Netherlands
PREVIOUS AFFILIATIONS
2014 - 2018 Associate professor
Developmental and Educational Psychology Unit
Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
2010 - 2014 Assistant professor
Developmental and Educational Psychology Unit
Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
2008 – 2010 Postdoctoral researcher
Developmental and Educational Psychology Unit
Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
2004 – 2008 Junior Lecturer
Developmental Psychology Department
Radboud University Nijmegen (RU), Nijmegen, The Netherlands
2002 – 2008 PhD student
Developmental Psychology & Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, & Behavior
Radboud University Nijmegen (RU), Nijmegen, The Netherlands
1999 – 2002 Teaching Assistant
Mathematics Department
Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey
1998 – 1999 Graduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Psychology
St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
SUPERVISION of PHD STUDENTS
S. Overgaauw “Social reorientation in adolescence: Neurobiological changes and individual differences in empathic
concern” (Leiden University, co-promotor). Defense date: 19 February 2015; currently Assistant
Professor in Clinical Psychology, Leiden University.
G.-J. Will “Acceptance, rejection and the social brain in adolescence: Toward a neuroscience of peer relations"
(Leiden University, co-promotor). Defense date: 4 June 2015; 2015-2017 postdoctoral researcher at
UCL/UK; currently LEaDing postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Psychology, Leiden University.
R. Meuwese “Me, my friends and I: A neuro-ecological perspective on adolescent prosocial development” (Leiden
University, co-promotor). Defense date: 31 Oct 2017; 2017-2018 lecturer in Developmental Psychology,
Leiden University.
E. Schreuders “Got a friend in me? Mapping the neural mechanisms underlying social motivations of adolescents
and adults” (Leiden University, promotor). Defense date: 6 March 2019; currently postdoctoral
researcher in Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University.
B. de Sousa da Silva “Being Deaf at the Playground: The effect of a hearing loss on children’s social participation” (Leiden
University, co-supervision with C. Rieffe). Expected defense: Sept 2020.
P. Brandner “The neural basis of prosocial development in adolescence” (Leiden University, co-supervision with E.
Crone). Expected defense: Dec 2021.
S. Kellij “Social perceptions, responses and skills of chronic victims: A neuroscience approach” (University of
Groningen, co-supervision with R. Veenstra). Expected defense: Jan 2022.
Ö. Koca “How inclusive is the school climate?” (Leiden University, co-supervision with C. Rieffe). Expected
defense: Sept 2022.
I. Koele “Developmental trajectories of peer influence on social decision-making” (Leiden University,
promotor). Expected defense: Jan 2023.
HONORS and GRANTS
2018 Joahnna Westerdijk award for outstanding female scientists. The award enabled promotion to a full Professor
position and is accompanied by a budget to be spent on research (€ 50,000)
2017 PI/Grant leader of consortium for research project: Linking social network relations to social brain activation
(€ 500,000), in collaboration with Groningen University, Tilburg University, University of Utrecht and Erasmus
University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2015 Dyason Fellowship, University of Melbourne, Australia (€ 3,350)
2011 VENI research grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. Project title: “The social brain in
adolescence: Examining peer interactions from a developmental social neuroscience perspective” (€ 250,000)
2008 Cum Laude for PhD dissertation, Radboud University Nijmegen, April 2008
2007 Research grant Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen (€ 15,720)
2006 European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA) Summer School (€ 2,000)
1998 Developmental Psychology PhD, full tuition remission, SSt. Louis University, MO, USA (€ 30,000)
1995-1998 Vehbi KoçScholar, KoçUniversity, Istanbul, Turkey (distinction for students with grade point average higher than
3.5 (max. 4))
1994-1998 Full scholarship with tuition remission, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey (€ 66,500; full scholarship is awarded to
top 2% students).
INSTITUTIONAL and ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
2018 – Chair of Dutch Society for Developmental Psychology (VNOP)
2016 – Department Board Member, Developmental Psychology Department, Leiden University
2016 – Board member of Faculty ‘Basic Qualification of Teaching’ (BKO) Committee, Leiden University
2012 – Board member Dutch Society for Developmental Psychology (VNOP)
2012 – 2016 Leiden Institute of Brain and Cognition (LIBC) Junior Hotspot Leader; Leiden University
2003 – 2008 Founder and chair International PhD student Committee, Radboud University Nijmegen
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
Developing, coordinating, and teaching various bachelor and master courses (selection): The Adolescent Brain, Social and Emotional Development, Introduction to Developmental Psychology, Social Neurocognition, Primary Relationships, Adolescent Psychology, Social and Personality Development; obtained Certificate for Basic Qualification for Teaching (BKO, 2011)
PUBLIC OUTREACH
Frequent presentations on the developing brain and peer relationships at schools in the Netherlands; contribution to education material for middle and high-school teachers; interview for an online BOLD blog on Learning and Development by Jacobs Foundation (bold.expert/the-thrill-of-winning-and-the-teenage-brain); interviews on national newspapers and magazines; national and international (Dutch Radio Sydney, Australia) radio interviews; contributions to popular scientific books (‘Pubers Handleiding voor Ouders’ (Teenager Handbook for Parents) by Gerard Jansen, ‘Durf te Vragen’ (Dare to Ask) by Suzanne Rethans; ‘Puberbrein Binnenstebuiten’ (Adolescent Brain Inside Out) by Yvonne van Sark and Huub Nelis).
Doctorate Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Supervisors: C.F.M. van Lieshout G. H. J. Haselager, & A. H. N. Cillessen
Thesis: ‘Development of dyadic peer relationships: Friendships and antipathies’
Date of viva: 3 April 2008, Cum Laude
Master Master of Arts in Psychology, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey
Thesis: ‘Parenting styles, attachment and school achievement’
Supervisor: E. Alp; March 2002
Bachelor Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey, June 1998
High School Üsküdar American Academy, Istanbul, Turkey, June 1994
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
2018 - present Professor Neuroscience of Social Relations
Developmental and Educational Psychology Unit
Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
2008 - present Senior Researcher
Leiden Institute of Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden, the Netherlands
PREVIOUS AFFILIATIONS
2014 - 2018 Associate professor
Developmental and Educational Psychology Unit
Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
2010 - 2014 Assistant professor
Developmental and Educational Psychology Unit
Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
2008 – 2010 Postdoctoral researcher
Developmental and Educational Psychology Unit
Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
2004 – 2008 Junior Lecturer
Developmental Psychology Department
Radboud University Nijmegen (RU), Nijmegen, The Netherlands
2002 – 2008 PhD student
Developmental Psychology & Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, & Behavior
Radboud University Nijmegen (RU), Nijmegen, The Netherlands
1999 – 2002 Teaching Assistant
Mathematics Department
Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey
1998 – 1999 Graduate Teaching Assistant
Department of Psychology
St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
SUPERVISION of PHD STUDENTS
S. Overgaauw “Social reorientation in adolescence: Neurobiological changes and individual differences in empathic
concern” (Leiden University, co-promotor). Defense date: 19 February 2015; currently Assistant
Professor in Clinical Psychology, Leiden University.
G.-J. Will “Acceptance, rejection and the social brain in adolescence: Toward a neuroscience of peer relations"
(Leiden University, co-promotor). Defense date: 4 June 2015; 2015-2017 postdoctoral researcher at
UCL/UK; currently LEaDing postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Psychology, Leiden University.
R. Meuwese “Me, my friends and I: A neuro-ecological perspective on adolescent prosocial development” (Leiden
University, co-promotor). Defense date: 31 Oct 2017; 2017-2018 lecturer in Developmental Psychology,
Leiden University.
E. Schreuders “Got a friend in me? Mapping the neural mechanisms underlying social motivations of adolescents
and adults” (Leiden University, promotor). Defense date: 6 March 2019; currently postdoctoral
researcher in Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University.
B. de Sousa da Silva “Being Deaf at the Playground: The effect of a hearing loss on children’s social participation” (Leiden
University, co-supervision with C. Rieffe). Expected defense: Sept 2020.
P. Brandner “The neural basis of prosocial development in adolescence” (Leiden University, co-supervision with E.
Crone). Expected defense: Dec 2021.
S. Kellij “Social perceptions, responses and skills of chronic victims: A neuroscience approach” (University of
Groningen, co-supervision with R. Veenstra). Expected defense: Jan 2022.
Ö. Koca “How inclusive is the school climate?” (Leiden University, co-supervision with C. Rieffe). Expected
defense: Sept 2022.
I. Koele “Developmental trajectories of peer influence on social decision-making” (Leiden University,
promotor). Expected defense: Jan 2023.
HONORS and GRANTS
2018 Joahnna Westerdijk award for outstanding female scientists. The award enabled promotion to a full Professor
position and is accompanied by a budget to be spent on research (€ 50,000)
2017 PI/Grant leader of consortium for research project: Linking social network relations to social brain activation
(€ 500,000), in collaboration with Groningen University, Tilburg University, University of Utrecht and Erasmus
University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2015 Dyason Fellowship, University of Melbourne, Australia (€ 3,350)
2011 VENI research grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. Project title: “The social brain in
adolescence: Examining peer interactions from a developmental social neuroscience perspective” (€ 250,000)
2008 Cum Laude for PhD dissertation, Radboud University Nijmegen, April 2008
2007 Research grant Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen (€ 15,720)
2006 European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA) Summer School (€ 2,000)
1998 Developmental Psychology PhD, full tuition remission, SSt. Louis University, MO, USA (€ 30,000)
1995-1998 Vehbi KoçScholar, KoçUniversity, Istanbul, Turkey (distinction for students with grade point average higher than
3.5 (max. 4))
1994-1998 Full scholarship with tuition remission, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey (€ 66,500; full scholarship is awarded to
top 2% students).
INSTITUTIONAL and ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
2018 – Chair of Dutch Society for Developmental Psychology (VNOP)
2016 – Department Board Member, Developmental Psychology Department, Leiden University
2016 – Board member of Faculty ‘Basic Qualification of Teaching’ (BKO) Committee, Leiden University
2012 – Board member Dutch Society for Developmental Psychology (VNOP)
2012 – 2016 Leiden Institute of Brain and Cognition (LIBC) Junior Hotspot Leader; Leiden University
2003 – 2008 Founder and chair International PhD student Committee, Radboud University Nijmegen
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
Developing, coordinating, and teaching various bachelor and master courses (selection): The Adolescent Brain, Social and Emotional Development, Introduction to Developmental Psychology, Social Neurocognition, Primary Relationships, Adolescent Psychology, Social and Personality Development; obtained Certificate for Basic Qualification for Teaching (BKO, 2011)
PUBLIC OUTREACH
Frequent presentations on the developing brain and peer relationships at schools in the Netherlands; contribution to education material for middle and high-school teachers; interview for an online BOLD blog on Learning and Development by Jacobs Foundation (bold.expert/the-thrill-of-winning-and-the-teenage-brain); interviews on national newspapers and magazines; national and international (Dutch Radio Sydney, Australia) radio interviews; contributions to popular scientific books (‘Pubers Handleiding voor Ouders’ (Teenager Handbook for Parents) by Gerard Jansen, ‘Durf te Vragen’ (Dare to Ask) by Suzanne Rethans; ‘Puberbrein Binnenstebuiten’ (Adolescent Brain Inside Out) by Yvonne van Sark and Huub Nelis).
