phd psychology university of amsterdam

Towards a better understanding of the human mind and human behavior

In the psychology department, talented and internationally renowned scholars work in their own wayward manner to gain a better understanding of the human mind and human behavior. The critical UvA-student is educated by them during this quest, in which independent thinking is expected and nothing and no one is beyond critique.

The research is organized in six program groups, which are part of the Psychology Research Institute:

• Brain and Cognition
• Clinical Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychological Methods
• Social Psychology
• Work and Organizational Psychology

The University of Amsterdam offers various Bachelor's and Master's programmes in Psychology.

• Our bachelor's programmes in Psychology
• Our master's programmes in Psychology

Roeterseiland Campus Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B 1018 WS Amsterdam

Note for (prospective) students : please contact our Education Desk for questions and inquiries. Tel: 020 525 6770 Email:  [email protected]

Room Location Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B 1018 WS Amsterdam

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Psychology Research Institute / PsyRes

This website provides information about the research groups participating in the Institute, publications, our PhD programme and the organisation of the Institute.

Research in Psychology

Experts in Psychology

PhD in Psychology

Behavioural Science Lab (BSL)

Giving positive feedback doesn’t always pay off

eHRAF World Cultures provides in-depth information on cultural and social life

PsyRes receives outstanding evaluation in national and international review

The sounds of a song can tell us what it is about

About PsyRes

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Psychological service for PhDs

During the first interview, an assessment is made of the nature, severity and background of the problems you encounter, and the type of support that is of most benefit to you. This can be a number of individual meetings with one of our psychologists. Another option is participation in a training, either a training that is open to PhDs and students or a training that is specifically designed for PhDs.

The conclusion of the first meeting might be that we are not able to offer you the counselling that you need. In that case, we can support you in finding the right professional. Sometimes this will result in a referral to Mental Health Care. To make sure your Health Insurance covers the costs, you need an official referral from a GP.

We mainly use evidence- based methods and techniques stemming from the Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy.

The meetings are confidential, unless you indicate in writing that it is important to you that information about you or your case is shared with a specific professional or institution.*

Please notice: when you need  psychological help immediately  or in case of crisis contact your GP or the UvA- studentenartsen (020 5252878).

• for an individual meeting: please fill in the form on this page
• for an overview of our workshops / training
• for questions please email: [email protected]

* We might break this code when we suspect there is a profound suspicion that you will hurt yourself or someone else.

Cookie Consent

The UvA uses cookies to ensure the basic functionality of the site and for statistical and optimisation purposes. Cookies are also placed to display third-party content and for marketing purposes. Click 'Accept all cookies' to consent to the placement of all cookies, or choose 'Decline' to only accept functional and analytical cookies. Also read the UvA Privacy statement .

Psychological service for PhDs

During the first interview, an assessment is made of the nature, severity and background of the problems you encounter, and the type of support that is of most benefit to you. This can be a number of individual meetings with one of our psychologists. Another option is participation in a training, either a training that is open to PhDs and students or a training that is specifically designed for PhDs.

The conclusion of the first meeting might be that we are not able to offer you the counselling that you need. In that case, we can support you in finding the right professional. Sometimes this will result in a referral to Mental Health Care. To make sure your Health Insurance covers the costs, you need an official referral from a GP.

We mainly use evidence- based methods and techniques stemming from the Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy.

The meetings are confidential, unless you indicate in writing that it is important to you that information about you or your case is shared with a specific professional or institution.*

Please notice: when you need  psychological help immediately  or in case of crisis contact your GP or the UvA- studentenartsen (020 5252878).

• for an individual meeting: please fill in the form on this page
• for an overview of our workshops / training
• for questions please email: [email protected]

* We might break this code when we suspect there is a profound suspicion that you will hurt yourself or someone else.

Cookie Consent

The UvA uses cookies to ensure the basic functionality of the site and for statistical and optimisation purposes. Cookies are also placed to display third-party content and for marketing purposes. Click 'Accept all cookies' to consent to the placement of all cookies, or choose 'Decline' to only accept functional and analytical cookies. Also read the UvA Privacy statement .

Application and Admission

Amsterdam School of Communication Research / ASCoR

Applicants to the ASCoR PhD program are expected to have rigorous methodological and substantive knowledge relevant to research on communication science and, in particular, to the PhD vacancy to which they apply. A Research Master (i.e., 2-year Master program consisting of at least 60 ECTS in methods and statistics) degree is not required for entering the PhD program but is generally considered a plus. The same goes for having obtained a Master’s degree in Communication Science. As entry requirements vary from project to project, it is above all important that there is a good fit between the candidate’s skills and project-specific requirements. Therefore, candidates with a Master in a discipline related to communications science (e.g., psychology or social sciences) or a discipline closely related to the focus of a particular PhD project, are generally encouraged to apply. 

Transfer program

In the exceptional case in which a candidate is considered the most suitable applicant for a certain position but lacks specific methodological or substantive knowledge, a tailormade transfer program (consisting of max. one 6 ECTS course taken at the Graduate School of Communication Science) can be followed at the start of the PhD trajectory. The selection committee will decide whether this is necessary and if so, which course will need to be taken.

The three options to enter the ASCoR PhD Programme are listed below:

Applying to an advertised project

Every year a number of specific PhD research projects are advertised. These projects come with a stipend or salary, and a tuition waiver. Vacancies are announced on the website of the University of Amsterdam: PhD vacancies .

Submitting your own research proposal

Since the number of advertised vacancies with tuition waivers is limited, ASCoR also admits excellent students into the program on the basis of their own research proposal. The proposal should fit the ASCoR research programme. You are expected to show that funds are available to cover living expenses for the duration of the project and for project costs. Moreover, you have to find a professor who is willing to supervise your project. When these conditions are met you may submit your research proposal

More information on the contents of your research proposal can be found in the FAQs under the header: What are the guidelines for a research proposal? Please keep in mind that students submitting their own research proposal are not eligible for a scholarship or any other form of funding from ASCoR, and that a tuition fee will usually apply.

PhD research visit

If you are a PhD candidate at another university, in the Netherlands or abroad, we welcome your application for a research visit to ASCoR. PhD research visits at ASCoR preferably last at least 3 months and can last up to one year. ASCoR requires that the home university and supervisor(s) support the visit. If you would like to apply for a research visit to ASCoR, please download the PhD research visit application form, which also includes relevant information on submission requirements, facilities and costs.

PhD Application

If you would like to pursue a PhD project at ASCoR, please complete the Application form for PhD positions and ensure to include all documents listed in the checklist (Section C of the application form). Please return the completed ASCoR PhD application form to the ASCoR Secretariat by email . 

PhD Research Visit Application

Download the  PhD Research Visit application form which includes a checklist, as well as background information on our programme and general information about the city of Amsterdam, costs and housing. 

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Best Global Universities for Psychiatry/Psychology in the Netherlands

These are the top universities in the Netherlands for psychiatry/psychology, based on their reputation and research in the field. Read the methodology »

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Here are the best global universities for psychiatry/psychology in the Netherlands

University of amsterdam, vrije universiteit amsterdam, utrecht university, university of groningen, maastricht university, leiden university, erasmus university rotterdam, tilburg university, radboud university nijmegen, university of twente.

See the full rankings

• Clear Filters
• # 10 in Best Universities for Psychiatry/Psychology
• # 39 in Best Global Universities  (tie)

The University of Amsterdam is a public institution that traces its roots back to 1632. The university is spread across... Read More

• # 17 in Best Universities for Psychiatry/Psychology
• # 82 in Best Global Universities

VU University Amsterdam is a public institution that was founded in 1880. The Dutch university is located in the Zuidas... Read More

• # 23 in Best Universities for Psychiatry/Psychology
• # 44 in Best Global Universities

Utrecht University is a public institution that was founded in 1636. It is located in the city of Utrecht in the... Read More

• # 36 in Best Universities for Psychiatry/Psychology
• # 88 in Best Global Universities

The University of Groningen is a public institution that was founded in 1614, making it one of the oldest universities... Read More

• # 48 in Best Universities for Psychiatry/Psychology  (tie)
• # 186 in Best Global Universities  (tie)
• # 65 in Best Universities for Psychiatry/Psychology  (tie)
• # 74 in Best Global Universities  (tie)

Leiden University is a public institution that was founded in 1575, making it the oldest university in the Netherlands... Read More

• # 74 in Best Universities for Psychiatry/Psychology
• # 65 in Best Global Universities  (tie)

Erasmus University Rotterdam is a public institution that traces its roots back to 1913. However, the university did not... Read More

• # 80 in Best Universities for Psychiatry/Psychology  (tie)
• # 531 in Best Global Universities  (tie)
• # 92 in Best Universities for Psychiatry/Psychology
• # 106 in Best Global Universities
• # 368 in Best Universities for Psychiatry/Psychology  (tie)
• # 400 in Best Global Universities  (tie)

CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY LAB

University of Amsterdam

Current Members

Get to know the current members of the Cultural Lab at the University of Amsterdam

Allard Feddes

Contact: [email protected]

Allard R. Feddes is an Assistant Professor at the Social Psychology department of the University of Amsterdam. Allard studied Social Psychology and Organizational Psychology at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands (1998-2004). In this period he participated in the ERASMUS exchange programme and studied at the National University of Maynooth, Ireland (Sociology and Philosophy). For his MA thesis studies he spent six months at the Psychology Department of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. Allard did his PhD in Social Psychology at the International Graduate College “Conflict and Cooperation between Social Groups” at the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (Germany, 2004-2007) where he studied associations between intergroup contact and development of prejudice in ethnic majority and minority children. In the period 2007-2011 he worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Social Psychology department of ISCTE-IUL (Lisbon University Institute) in Lisbon, Portugal, where he studied development of prejudice, stereotyping, and perceptions of social status in Portuguese children of different ethnic background. Since 2011 he has studied processes of (de-)radicalisation at the University of Amsterdam and the University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy, in 2014-2015). Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Allard is investigating the role of culture in conflict and cooperation between social groups. Click here for more information.

Bertjan Doosje

Contact: [email protected]

Bertjan Doosje is an Associate Professor at the University of Amsterdam. From 2012-2019, he held the Frank Buijs Chair on Radicalization Studies, financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs & Employment, Verwey-Jonker Institute (Utrecht) and MOVISIE (Utrecht). Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Bertjan is investigating the role of culture in relationship satisfaction; role of culture in resilience among refugees; reactions to cultural threat to group’s image. Click here for more information.

Enzo Cáceres

Contact: [email protected]

For my doctoral project, under the supervision of Bertjan Doosje (supervisor), Judit Kende (co-supervisor), and Michael Boiger (co-supervisor), we are interested in how dominant group members lead different identity management strategies through concrete social practices, such as remembering and group-based emotions. Prior to my PhD, I completed a B.A. in Psychology at Universidad Católica de Chile (2014) and an MSc. in Social-Community Psychology (2019) at the same university. During my bachelors, I partook in qualitative and theoretical research on collective memory about the Chilean dictatorship (1973-1990) throughout different generations and on the interplay between historical and biographical narratives of right-wing, left-wing, and survivor people of Chilean state terrorism. On the other hand, in my MSc. I conducted a field experiment in a memorial site of the Chilean dictatorship to assess the effect of the ideological distance from the visitors perspective regarding the culprits (measured by an adapted scale of RWA) on the socially shared retrieval-induced forgetting of justifications to atrocities as a manner of understanding memorials effects on preventing inter-group violence.Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Enzo is investigating white ethnic dominance and collective memory. Click here for more information.

Kunalan Manokara

Contact: [email protected]

Positive emotions lie at the core of my research interests. Broadly speaking, I examine how ‘feel good’ emotions relate to social and psychological phenomena. These include expressive behaviours, cultural norms, prosocial outcomes, and socioeconomic status. I am currently employed as a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), where I am jointly supervised by Agneta Fischer and Disa Sauter. For my PhD project, we investigate how multiple positive emotions are expressed (through a mix of facial and bodily actions), and evaluate the role of social and cultural factors in regulating these emotion displays. Prior to this, I completed an MPhil in Psychology at the University of Queensland (Australia), and an MSc in Social Cognition at University College London (United Kingdom). My academic journey started at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), where I read a double major in Psychology (BA Hons) and History. Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Kunalan is investigating positive emotions, cultural norms, display rules. Click here for more information.

Michael Boiger

Contact: [email protected]

Michael Boiger is an assistant professor of cultural psychology at the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands). Michael obtained his PhD from the University of Leuven (Belgium), where he conducted research on the cultural construction of anger and shame in the United States, Japan, Belgium, and Turkey. In his current research, he takes a cultural psychological approach to studying emotional dynamics in close relationships. In particular, he is interested in how intercultural couples navigate potential cultural differences in emotion. Besides his academic activities, Michael works as an emotion-focused and systemic therapist in private practice. Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Michael is investigating the cultural construction of emotions, intercultural couples and emotion dynamics in close relationships. Click here for more information.

Natalia Zarzeczna

Contact: [email protected] l

I am a research associate at the Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam. I am working on an ERC funded project awarded to Dr. Bastiaan Rutjens. The aim of the project is to provide a unified theoretical framework to understand science scepticism. Overall, I am interested in social and spatial cognitive processes underpinning attitudes towards science, stereotypic perceptions of social groups, and implicit prejudice associated with gender, sexual orientation, religiosity, and race. My main collaborations involve Dr. Paul Hanel (University of Essex, UK), prof. Geoffrey Haddock, Dr. Ulrich von Hecker, and Travis Proulx (Cardiff University, UK), Prof. Fern Elsdon-Baker, Dr. Carissa Sharp (University of Birmingham, UK), Dr. Carola Leicht (University of Kent, UK), and Dr. Suzanna Bono (Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia). Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Natalia is investigating cross-cultural differences in science scepticism and compliance with health advice. Click here for more information.

Contact: [email protected]

I am now a postdoc researcher at Department of Social Psychology, UvA, working with Dr. Disa Sauter. Before coming to UvA, I completed my PhD in social psychology with Dr. Alex Kogan at University of Cambridge (Jan 2018), my MRes of Cognitive Neuroscience with Dr. Sarah White at University College London (Sep 2013), and my BS in Psychology with Prof. Shihui Han at Peking University (July 2012). Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Rui is investigating culture and emotional experiences. Click here for more information.

Velichko Fetvadjiev

Contact: [email protected]

Velichko Fetvadjiev conducts research in the broad areas of personality and cross-cultural psychology, addressing topics such as the structure, consistency, and predictive power of personality traits across cultures; the relationship of personality and values; the role of language in personality expression; and research methods. He has been centrally involved in the South African Personality Inventory (SAPI) project, which developed a culturally informed instrument for the assessment of personality across ethnocultural groups in South Africa. The SAPI project addresses the challenges of assessment in a multicultural and multi-linguistic context, as well as proposing an integrated, emic-etic approach to personality research across cultures. His main current research deals with an interdisciplinary approach to personality and values across languages and historical periods. This ongoing work aims to advance the understanding of historical changes in personality and values by leveraging insights from analyses of written texts. He has received competitive grants from South Africa’s National Research Foundation and the University of Pretoria, South Africa, as well as start-up and travel grants from various institutions. He is the recipient in 2020 of the Early Career Award of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology. He serves on the editorial board of the European Journal of Personality. He is a member of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology and the European Association for Personality Psychology. He is a founding member and secretary of the World Association for Personality Psychology. He holds an extraordinary chair as associate professor at North-West University, South Africa. Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Velichko is investigating personality and values. Click here for more information.

Liesbeth Mann

Contact: [email protected]

Liesbeth works as a teacher and researcher at the University of Amsterdam, department of Social Psychology. After studying Social Psychology and Holocaust and Genocide Studies she obtained her PhD (2017) at the same university. Her PhD research dealt with the emotion of humiliation in different contexts and also focused on cultural differences in the antecedents and experience of humiliation. After finishing her PhD she worked as a postdoc at VU University (a project on age discrimination in the labor market) and Tilburg University (a project on political apologies across cultures), before returning to the UvA. Her research interests include intergroup behavior, cross-cultural psychology, political psychology and (group-based) emotions. Liesbeth is co-coördinator of the master track Cultural Psychology (together with Bertjan Doosje) and teaches a course on the psychology of intercultural contact and acculturation within this master track (together with Velichko Fetvadjiev).  Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Liesbeth is investigating how people cope with COVID-19. Click here for more information.

Yong-Qi Cong

Contact: [email protected]

I completed my bachelor in psychology at the University of Groningen and research master in psychology at the UVA before starting my PhD funded by a Research Talent Grant from the NWO. I’m interested in emotions in cross-cultural and developmental contexts. In my PhD, I investigate how people from different cultural backgrounds express and interpret emotional expressions differently and why people are better at recognizing non-verbal expressions of emotions shown by their cultural in-group. I use a variety of methods in my research including surveys, meta-analysis, behavioural experiments, eye-tracking, and longitudinal studies. I also find it important to study diverse samples and have experience working with community samples, expats, and children. My interest in culture does not only reflect in studying psychological phenomena cross-culturally, but also working with people from diverse backgrounds in the process, which I believe Is essential to understanding culture and human behaviour.  Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Yong-Qi is investigating the production and perception of emotional expressive behaviours across cultures and the cultural variations in emotional appraisals. Click here for more information.

Tengku Nila Fadhlia

Contact: [email protected]

I completed my undergraduate (B.Hons) and master degree in Department of Psychology, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. Now, I am working on my Ph.D project under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Bertjan Doosje and Dr. Disa Sauter about resilience of refugees.Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Tengku Nila is investigating the role of culture in refugees’ resilience. Click here for more information.

Disa Sauter

Contact: [email protected]

I did my BSc in Psychology and Cognitive Science at University College London (2002), followed by a PhD in the same department (2006). Then I worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, after which I received an ESRC fellowship, which I took up at Birkbeck College London. In 2008 I moved to the Netherlands to work as a staff researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, where I stayed until 2011. I then moved to the University of Amsterdam, where I held a Veni grant (2011-2016) from the Dutch Science Foundation. My current funding includes an ERC Starting Grant and several grants from the Dutch Science Foundation. I am Associate Professor in the Department of Social Psychology at UvA and associate editor of the journal Emotion Review. Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Disa is investigating emotions across cultures. Click here for more information.

Aiden Hoyle

Contact: [email protected]

My PhD project is affiliated with three institutions: the University of Amsterdam, TNO: Defense, Safety and Security, and the Netherlands Defence Academy. My research advances a psychological effects-based approach to malign information influence tactics. In this, I am building and experimentally testing transdisciplinary models of the cognitive and emotional responses narratives intended to antagonise can elicit in different international audiences. A particular focus here is how different narratives are interpreted interculturally. Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Aiden is investigating the role of culture in conflict and the weaponisation of cultural values in hostile media. Click here for more information.

Suzanne Hoogeveen

Contact: [email protected]

In her research, Suzanne examines the cognitive science of religion. She also has a keen interest in open science practices, and the replicability of scientific findings. Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Suzanne is investigating the relation between religiosity and mental health, trust, source credibility beliefs and mind-body dualism across cultures. Click here for more information.

Seval Gündemir

Contact: [email protected]

Seval Gündemir received her bachelor and master degrees in Work and Organizational Psychology from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (both cum laude). She received the NWO Mosaic grant to conduct PhD-research on the underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in leadership roles. During her PhD, she received the Fulbright grant to conduct research on the effects of diversity policies on minority leadership emergence at Yale University, Psychology Department. She defended her PhD-thesis titled “The Minority Glass Ceiling Hypothesis” in 2015. After her PhD, she received the NWO Rubicon grant to continue her research on female and racial-ethnic minority leadership. She worked at Columbia Business School, Management Division from 2015 to 2017 as a post-doctoral research scholar. In August 2017, she joined the University of Amsterdam as an assistant professor of Work and Organizational Psychology (tenured). Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Seval is investigating intercultural contact, cultural appropriation, and managing cultural diversity in the workplace. Click here for more information.

Eftychia Stamkou

Contact: [email protected]

Eftychia Stamkou (1985) is a social and cultural psychologist. She completed her undergraduate studies in psychology at Panteion University of Athens (summa cum laude) alongside her music composition studies at Conservatorium of Athens (cum laude). She then moved to the University of Amsterdam where she completed a Research Master’s in social and organizational psychology (cum laude) and conducted her dissertation research in social psychology (PhD in 2018). After her PhD, she was appointed assistant professor at the University of Amsterdam, where she also coordinates the Cultural Psychology Master’s. She has held temporary positions at Columbia University, Columbia Business School, and the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, where she is currently visiting faculty. Eftychia’s research is supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO: Rubicon, Veni), the Fulbright Program, and the European Commission (Horizon-2020 Societal Challenges). In 2020, she received the triennial Early Career Award of the European Association of Social Psychology (EASP).  Within the Cultural Psychology Lab Eftychia is investigating culture, art, and social norms. Click here for more information.

David Abadi

Contact: [email protected]

David Abadi is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Amsterdam Interdisciplinary Centre for Emotion (AICE), Department of Social Psychology, University of Amsterdam. His research interests across social sciences encompass social identity (ingroup vs. outgroup; intergroup relations), cultural psychology (cultural aspects of stereotyping), affective science (basic emotions and appraisal theory), conspiracy mentality and misinformation, threat and terror management theory, political psychology (extremism and populism) as well as perspective-taking and polarization in online-communication. Within the Cultural Psychology Lab David is investigating social groups, social identity, intergroup relations, and cross-cultural differences in emotions Click here for more information.

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Obtaining a PhD

The faculty does not offer PhD-courses on a regular basis, but employs PhD students on individual basis. They write a PhD dissertation under tutorship of a professor in the applicable subject. In addition, a supervisor is involved who provides substantive or process management - depending on the needs of the individual candidate.  

The recruitment of PhD students is done by actively approaching students and through advertisement on the VU Amsterdam website.

Graduate School Most PhD programs are embedded in our Graduate School, one of the National Research Schools or Interdisciplinary Research Institutes. The Graduate School is responsible for offering tailor made education to the specific elements of a PhD program, adapted to the needs of each student. External PhD candidates If your research proposal is of outstanding quality and will contribute to the research profile of our faculty, it’s possible to write a thesis at your own expense under tutorship of a faculty professor. As an external PhD candidate you are not officially a VU employee or student. The process of earning a PhD degree takes four years and consists of conducting research and writing a dissertation independently. External PhD candidates who are interested can mail their CV and research proposal to the relevant section of one of the departments . PhD candidates from abroad A PhD candidate from abroad with a research grant (from the country of origin or obtained through NUFFIC) can follow a PhD trajectory under tutorship of a faculty professor who agrees to the guidance of the candidate. CV and research proposal may be mailed to the appropriate section of one of our departments . 

• FGB Graduate School
• National Research Schools
• Interdisciplinary Research Institutes
• Vacancies at VU Amsterdam 
• PhD programme VU Amsterdam

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PhD Programme / ILLC

PhD Programme

Anthia Solaki PhD candidate at FNWI 2017 - 2021

The ILLC PhD programme, organised by the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC) at the University of Amsterdam, is a four-year programme designed to support and guide PhD candidates in their track to become highly qualified scientific researchers in the areas described by the institute's research mission. PhD candidates are given the opportunity to benefit from a rich scientific programme as well as a tailor-made transferable-skills programme.

Info for Current PhD's

Psychology and neuroscience graduate will focus on mental well-being of youth

First-hand internship experience with children with mental health challenges shaped eliza joy's decision to pursue a doctorate in school psychology.

Photo courtesy of Eliza Joy

Editor’s note:  This story is part of a series of profiles of  notable spring 2024 graduates .

Career-connected learning made all the difference in Eliza Joy’s undergraduate education at ASU.

In addition to double majoring in psychology in the School of Counseling and Counseling Psychology at the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts , and neuroscience at The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences , she gained intensive, real-world experiences during two internships: as a counseling aide and social science technician.

While interning at Desert Visions Youth Wellness Center , a Native American youth substance abuse treatment facility, Joy said she learned how factors such as poverty, generational trauma, addiction and a lack of mental health resources can significantly impact nearly every area of health and education.

“My two incredible internships were integral to my success during my undergraduate education,” noted Joy, who is one of three graduates being honored as an inaugural Dean’s Medalist in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts this spring. The college's Dean’s Medalists are honored for their display of exemplary academic achievement and record of leadership and service.

These experiences motivated her to continue learning in this arena and in the fall, she will pursue school psychology as a doctoral student at the University of South Carolina.

Question: Did a scholarship help fund your academic journey at ASU?

Answer: The Medallion Scholarship Program helped fund my academic journey at ASU and played a big role in my success as a student. Not only did MSP help relieve some of the financial burdens of my studies, but the program also provided me with an immense amount of support and community. The scholarship program prides itself on academic success, leadership, and community service and has helped me grow in all of those areas throughout my years at ASU.

Q: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the fields you majored in?

A: A huge “aha” moment that solidified my passion for the field was my experience interning for Advanced Therapeutic Solutions for Anxiety, a mental health clinic that specializes in anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and selective mutism. I had the opportunity to work with children with selective mutism in the intensive exposure therapy process as a psychological confederate. During my time there, I worked as a psychological confederate and in that role, I was used as a therapeutic tool for those who had selective mustism in exposure therapy sessions. Here, I learned about the importance of early intervention and the significant role that educational systems play in the well-being of students. 

During Adventure Camp, a week-long exposure therapy session, I asked my camper, “What was your favorite part of the day?” They looked up at me, smiled, and replied, “You!” Out of all the fun things we did that day, which included a trip to the ice cream parlor, I had made a positive impact on their day and enough of an impact to be considered one of the best parts. That is my “why” when I am asked why I chose the path I am on now.   

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom, lab or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?

A: One of the most important lessons I learned during my time at ASU is that I — and you — can do hard things. Life and college are full of challenges, but in embracing the things that encompass our human experience, we find ourselves. Growth is uncomfortable, but it is incredibly beautiful, too.  

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: I chose ASU because of its renowned psychology programs, extensive connections, and significant research. Arizona will always be my home!        

Q: What was your most interesting moment, story or accomplishment at ASU?

A: One of my favorite moments in my ASU journey was being elected to represent the Polytechnic campus as Homecoming Royalty on ASU’s Homecoming Court. I had the best time celebrating ASU traditions, meeting new people, and bringing electric energy to all of the Homecoming events! Having the opportunity to be a part of Homecoming in such a unique way was truly one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU and what was it?

A: Professor Bryan Camp gave me a lot of incredible advice throughout my years at ASU, spanning from academic support to overall personal well-being. One of the most important lessons he taught me was the value of lifelong learning and how important and exciting it is to continue to grow your knowledge, experiences and yourself.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: Trust yourself to figure life out as you go. Your early 20s are hard, and if there is one thing I’ve learned as a student success coach at ASU, it is that everybody puts so much pressure on the need to know exactly where they will end up. You will discover your path. Trust your own journey and timeline, as they belong to you.

Q: What was your favorite spot on campus?

A: During the cooler months, I loved to study by the water fountain outside of the Student Union at the Polytechnic campus. During the warmer months, I loved hanging out with my friends by the Starbucks at the Student Union and listening to the students' hustle and bustle.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: I will pursue a PhD in school psychology with an emphasis in pediatric health and integrated care at the University of South Carolina. In the future, I want to work on a panel of health care providers to take an interdisciplinary approach to the well-being of children by supporting those who struggle with serious health conditions as they transition back into an educational setting.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I would focus on optimizing the success of our future generations by way of our educational systems. I think it is important not only to deliver quality education but also to integrate structured support systems, interventions, and programs for developing life skills, especially regarding mental health. The mind and the body work together and influence each other in nearly every capacity, and I believe we could do a lot to set up our future generations for successful and healthy lives. I don’t know if $40 million would solve this problem, but it would be an awesome start!

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UW Psychology Student Wins National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

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Institutional Communications Bureau of Mines Building, Room 137 Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: (307) 766-2929 Email:   [email protected]

Published April 23, 2024

University of Wyoming psychology graduate student Jaylan Aliev, of Boise, Idaho, has been awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

As a second-year graduate student in the psychology and law Ph.D. program, Aliev’s research interests include juror perceptions of marginalized victims, how these perceptions affect legal decision-making and how to mitigate juror biases.

“Child sexual abuse is a national health crisis, and the process of seeking justice for victims can often be retraumatizing,” Aliev says. “Countless child sexual abuse narratives do not follow the popular culture prototype that suggests victims are young girls and perpetrators middle-aged men, and it is important to investigate how older or male victims of child sexual abuse are treated in the legal system -- and how such demographic factors may influence mock juror decision-making in these cases.”

Aliev’s current work examines the impact of victim physical maturity on legal decision-making in cases of child sexual abuse. Her secondary line of research focuses on analyzing racial, socioeconomic, geographic and policy disparities in the U.S. juvenile legal system.

“Receiving the news that I was a 2024 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship awardee felt like a dream,” she says. “I am a first-generation high school and college graduate, as well as first-generation American. My initial thought was, ‘Things like this don’t happen to people like me.’”

In May, Aliev will graduate with her master’s degree in psychology, and she looks forward to beginning her graduate fellowship research plans.

“As I have gained more experience working with community partners, I have become extremely interested in disseminating psycho-legal research in a way that informs public policy and aims to improve our current criminal legal system,” she says.

After earning her Ph.D., she hopes to continue her work at a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization as a researcher or data analyst.

“It still has not fully sunk in that my application was one of the 2,000 that was selected as a recipient out of tens of thousands of applications,” Aliev says. “I immediately started crying and then called my adviser, Kayla Burd (UW assistant professor of psychology), and my parents.”

To learn more about Aliev’s research, email her at [email protected] .

Munroe-Meyer

Cara Solness, PhD

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Professional Summary

Cara Solness, PhD (they/she) is a licensed psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Munroe-Meyer Institute. Dr. Solness completed their Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Iowa, internship at the University of Iowa’s University Counseling Center and postdoctoral training at University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical School Department of Psychiatry with a specialization in neonatal mental health, NICU psychology and perinatal mental health. Dr. Solness is a member of the National Network of NICU Psychologists (NNNP) and co-chairs the NNNP Diversity, Equity and Justice Committee (DEAJ).

Dr. Solness currently provides clinical services in the NICU at Children’s Nebraska. Dr. Solness’ research interests include interventions for non-birthing partners in the NICU, LGBTQ+ parents with NICU experiences, therapeutic alliance, group therapy and technology-delivered interventions.

• Postdoctoral Training: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 2023
• Internship: University of Iowa Counseling Center, Iowa City, IA, 2022
• PhD: Counseling Psychology - University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 2022
• University of Iowa, Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, Group Therapy
• University of Iowa, Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, Introduction to Counseling Psychology
• University of Iowa, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Abnormal Psychology
• University of Iowa, SafeZone facilitator

Interests and Projects

• Interventions for non-birthing partners in the NICU
• LGBTQ+ parents with NICU experiences
• Therapeutic alliance
• Technology-delivered interventions

Publications

• Relationship Factors in Internet-Delivered Psychological Interventions for Veterans Experiencing Postpartum Depression: Qualitative Analysis - PubMed (nih.gov)   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37581917/
• Treating postpartum depression in rural veterans using internet delivered CBT: program evaluation of MomMoodBooster - PubMed (nih.gov)   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33052526/
• Solness, C. L. , Wang, K., Mitchell, A. Kivlighan, D. M. (2024). Queering Group Therapy: A Mixed Methods Study of the Effectiveness of Group Therapy for Transgender and Non-Binary Persons. [Manuscript submitted to Journal of Counseling Psychology]
• Solness, C. L., & Kivlighan, D. M. (2022). Queering group therapy: A phenomenological participatory design with transgender individuals. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice , 53 (3), 215-224. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000459

Professional Affiliations

• Division 17 Society of Counseling Psychology
• Division 44 Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity
• Division 54 Society of Pediatric Psychology
• Co-Chair of Diversity, Equity and Justice Committee
• APA Div 49 Diversity and Social Justice Poster Award (2023)
• University of Iowa College of Education Research Grant (2020)
• University of Iowa Graduate and Professional Student Grant (2020)

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Kathryn Roderick is the 2024 Kent & Billie Anger Graduate Student Research Award Recipient

The Psychology Department is pleased to announce that Kathryn Roderick is the inaugural Kent and Billie Anger Graduate Student Research Fund award recipient. This fund was established with a gift in 2023 from Kent and Billie Anger. Kent earned his doctorate in experimental psychology in 1974 from the University of Maine.

Kathryn Roderick is a 4th year PhD Candidate in Psychological Sciences at the University of Maine. Growing up in Virginia, the supportive environment created by Kathryn’s family instilled in her a love of learning, an inquisitive spirit, and a desire to give back to her community. Her decision to pursue a doctoral degree stems from a desire to further her expertise and contribute to the education and training of future psychology professionals. Kathryn’s research broadly focuses on conflict resolution. In her current work she is focusing on how individuals confront discrimination and prejudice, what makes such confrontations effective, and how individuals from diverse backgrounds are perceived when they confront.

The Kent and Billie Anger Graduate Student Research Fund will play a crucial role in supporting Kathryn’s dissertation research. Kathryn is passionate about representing, and understanding, the unique perspectives of individuals from diverse backgrounds in her research. This funding will enable her to compensate research participants and broaden the scope of her data collection efforts. By facilitating a more diverse sample, this financial support will enhance the quality and depth of Kathryn’s research findings, ultimately contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field of psychology. This funding is vital to a scholar like Kathryn who is passionate about reducing conflict among individuals from diverse backgrounds.

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Human Factors/Ergonomics

Degree concentration for phd, industrial engineering.

Human factors and ergonomics (HFE) applies industrial engineering, physiology, psychology, and computer science to the design of working and living environments with explicit consideration of the physical and mental characteristics of users.

Faculty and students in HFE conduct research in areas such as human-automation interaction, mathematical modeling of human performance, inclusive design, occupational safety, workplace design, cognitive engineering, and biomechanics.

Our department has a 50-year history of quality education and research in HFE. UB's IE program is one of the few graduate programs offered within an engineering school to be accredited by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. We have an active student body, as evidenced by our award-winning student chapter of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. 

HFE research is funded by such agencies as the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Science Foundation, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Institutes of Health, as well as national and local corporations.

Our graduating students take human factors positions in academic institutions, federal laboratories, and national corporations.

Required Core Courses

IE PhD students who concentrate in HFE complete at a minimum:

• IE 531 Research Methods
• IE 507 Design and Analysis of Experiments
• IE 532 Human Information Processing
• IE 536 Physiological Foundations of Human Factors
• One Elective Course:  Choose one 500 or 600 level Human Factors Course (e.g., IE 541, Human Factors in Safety; IE 535, Human Computer Interaction; any 600 level special topics course or other HF course)

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Psychology Colloquium Highlights Diverse Careers and Research Interests of Graduate Program Alumni

On April 5, the Villanova University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences hosted a special colloquium that featured presentations from four alumni from the Master of Science program in Psychology. This daylong event in a packed Dougherty Hall East Lounge showcased the diverse research interests of successful alumni and was made more notable by the presence of each presenter's faculty thesis mentors, all of whom are recently retired or are retiring this year.

All four MS alumni went on to earn a PhD and are currently psychological scientists as members of university psychology departments.

"The colloquium highlights the outstanding research and diverse, academic careers of our alumni, as well as the lasting connections that our students form with their faculty mentors. We are delighted to bring the Villanova Psychological and Brain Sciences community together for this wonderful event," said Michael Brown, PhD, Professor and Department Chair.  

The 2024 Psychological and Brain Sciences Alumni Research Colloquium included:

Page Anderson, PhD, '93 MS Associate Professor, Psychology and Neuroscience, Georgia State University PhD: University of Georgia, Clinical Psychology Talk Title: "The Chatbot Will See You Now: Two Decades of Technology in Mental Health Research" Villanova Advisor: Pamela Blewitt, PhD, Professor Emerita

Joshua Hicks, PhD, '03 MS Professor, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University PhD: University of Missouri, Personality and Social Psychology Talk Title: "Unique Pathways to the Experience of Meaning in Life" Villanova Advisor: Deborah Kendzierski, PhD, Professor Emerita

Eddie Ester, PhD, '06 MS Assistant Professor, Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno PhD: University of Oregon, Psychology Talk Title: "Human Brain Oscillations Link Cognition With Action" Villanova Advisor: Charles Folk, PhD

Amy Moors, PhD, '09 MS Assistant Professor, Psychology, Chapman University PhD: University of Michigan, Psychology and Women's Studies Talk Title: "Rethinking Romance: Challenging Misconceptions About Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships" Villanova Advisor: Thomas Toppino, PhD

About Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the heart of the Villanova learning experience, offering foundational courses for undergraduate students in every college of the University. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is committed to fortifying them with intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary knowledge, moral courage and a global perspective. The College has more than 40 academic departments and programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences.

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The CLAS Office of Graduate Studies offers personal tours of the beautiful Villanova campus. All tours begin in the Graduate Studies Office, located in Vasey Hall. Schedule your tour !

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Orange crush: Boats packed with revelers tour Amsterdam canals to celebrate the king’s birthday

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Decked in the national orange color, dancing to music, and eating orange-glazed pastries, many in the Netherlands Saturday are marking King’s Day , celebrating the birthday of their monarch who is enjoying a very slight rise in popularity as per a national poll.

As King Willem-Alexander celebrated his 57th birthday with his family in the northeastern city of Emmen, people across the country engaged in the traditional “free markets” held on that day, selling second-hand toys, books and other items. Others toured through the historic canals of the capital, Amsterdam as orange smoke from flares held aloft one boat drifted over vessels of all shapes and sizes jostling for space on a busy canal.

“Celebrating your birthday with your own family is the most beautiful thing you can experience. I’m very happy everybody is back,” Willem-Alexander told Dutch broadcaster NOS during a walkabout in Emmen, 190 kilometers (120 miles) northeast of the Dutch capital.

An annual poll published by the NOS for King’s Day showed Willem-Alexander’s popularity edging up very slightly since last year to 6.6 out of 10. His Argentine-born wife, Queen Maxima, scored 7.1 out of 10 in the poll of 1,015 people, conducted earlier this month.

The royals’ popularity took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic after Willem-Alexander and his family went on vacation in Greece during a partial lockdown. The royals cut short their break amid national uproar and Willem-Alexander took the unusual step of issuing a video message to express his regret and contrition for the trip.

The king’s three daughters, Amalia, Alexia and Ariane have all spent time out of the country recently — Ariane has been studying in Italy while Alexia has taken a gap year to travel. The eldest and heir to the Dutch throne, Amalia, also returned ahead of the king’s birthday after being forced to leave her student accommodation in Amsterdam and move to Madrid following threats from the criminal underworld.

Amalia, 20, who is studying politics, psychology, law and economics at Amsterdam University, told NOS she was “extremely grateful to everybody who made it possible” for her to live in Spain, where she said she was able to enjoy more freedom than in the Netherlands.

But, she added: “I’m glad to be back.”

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