About Me
I work as assistant professor at the University of Twente, University of Groningen, and Utrecht University (NL) and a visiting researcher at Aarhus University (DK) and the University of New South Wales (AUS). My research is focused on the definition, assessment, prediction, and treatment of disturbed grief in bereaved adults and children.
In projects among people who experienced losses because of a long-term disappearance, homicide, MH17 plane disaster, traffic accident, COVID-19, and Russian war in Ukraine I examine risk factors and treatment of distress. I have authored more than 70 peer-reviewed journal articles. According to a bibliometric study from 2023 on the most productive/influential authors on the topic of prolonged grief disorder (https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2023.2196734) I am the third most productive academic in the world.
As main applicant/principal investigator, I received funding (> 870.000 euros) for ten research projects, including a NWO Veni-grant in 2022. As co-applicant, I received funding (>250.000 euros) for four research projects. Funding agencies that financially supported my work are Fund Victim Support, Dutch Ministry of Justice and Safety, NWO, SASS, Stichting Catharine van Tussenbroek, and Utrecht and Twente University Fund.
Additional roles:
1. Editor for special issue on grief in Frontiers in Psychiatry (https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/23195/consequences-and-aftercare-of-a-traumatic-loss-of-a-loved-one) (2021-2023)
2. Ad-hoc reviewer for several academic journals (see for overview: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/155722)
3. Former board member of the Dutch Society for Psychotrauma (see www.ntvp.nl). This is a society for therapists and researchers working with psychotrauma. It consists of 600+ members and ~10.000 LinkedIn followers. (2019-2023)
4. Chair Special Interest Group Traumatic Grief of the Dutch Society for Psychotrauma (2023-current)
5. Finance/Research officer Bereavement Network Europe (community that connects European professionals working with bereaved people) (2020-current)
6. Teacher in research practice at PPO (a post-master education for clinical psychologists) (2019-current)
7. Editorial board of Impact Magazine (https://oorlog.arq.org/nl/impact-magazine-0) (2021-current)
8. Review committee member Dutch Veterans Institute (Nederlands Veteranen Instituut) (2022)
Co-promotor/Principal investigator/Daily supervisor
PhD Candidate Iris van Dijk (2020-2024)
PhD Candidate Lyanne Reitsma (2020-2024)
PhD Candidate Lieke Nijborg (2022-2025)
PhD Committee member
PhD Sander Vos (2021)
Expertise
Organisations
Publications
UT Research Information System
Google Scholar Link
Affiliated Study Programmes
Bachelor
Master
Courses Academic Year 2021/2022
Current Projects
Finished Projects
In the press
Media outlet highlights
Original title [English title]
Link
Date (day/month/year)
- Interview Dutch national newspaper Algemeen Dagblad
Zoektocht naar vermiste Samuël gestaakt: ‘We moeten nu accepteren dat hij niet gevonden wordt’ [The search for Samuël discontinued: ‘We now need to accept that he will not be found’]
https://www.ad.nl/amersfoort/zoektocht-naar-vermiste-samuel-gestaakt-we-moeten-nu-accepteren-dat-hij-niet-gevonden-wordt~abf93ac13/
28/9/2021 - Interview professional Dutch magazine Vakblad Uitvaart
Grotere kans op rouwstoornis door corona [Increased risk of a grief disorder due to corona]
https://uitvaartmedia.com/webshop-vakbladuitvaart/
01/12/2020 - Interview Dutch national newspaper Algemeen Dagblad
Hoe rouw je in tijden van corona? [How to grieve in times of COVID?]
https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/hoe-rouw-je-in-tijden-van-corona-ik-heb-het-afscheid-in-kleine-kring-juist-als-prettig-ervaren~a0d5bb43/
28/10/2020 - Blog Nederlandstalige Vereniging voor Psychotrauma
Yalom: “Get in therapy; go through your own issues!”
https://www.ntvp.nl/yalom-get-in-therapy-go-through-your-own-issues/?mc_cid=0da9d4e3b2&mc_eid=dce7448dc8
23/10/2020 - Interview Dutch national radio Radio1
Radio 1: Online rouwen tijdens pandemie [Grieving online during pandemic]
https://www.nporadio1.nl/fris/onderwerpen/66163-2020-10-11-online-rouwen-om-coronadoden-kan-dat-wel
11/10/2020 - Dutch national t.v. Nieuwsuur
Hoe is het om door corona nooit echt afscheid te kunnen nemen van je geliefde [What is it like to never really say goodbye to your loved one because of corona?]
https://nos.nl/nieuwsuur/video/2350976-hoe-is-het-om-door-corona-nooit-echt-afscheid-te-kunnen-nemen-van-je-geliefde.html
04/10/2020 - Online Dutch article published by Fund Victim Support
Afscheid en rouw in tijden van corona [Farewell and grief in COVID-19 times]
https://slachtofferwijzer.nl/nieuws/afscheid-en-rouw-in-tijden-van-corona/
30/03/2020 - Live-interview Dutch national radio Radio1
Impact op achterblijvers van vermiste is enorm [impact on those left behind after a disappearance is huge]
https://www.nporadio1.nl/langs-de-lijn-en-omstreken/onderwerpen/526611-impact-op-achterblijvers-van-vermiste-is-enorm
22/01/2020 - Interview Dutch national newspaper Algemeen Dagblad
Hierdoor maakt de vermissing van Dirk Dalebout meer los dan andere zaken [This is why the disappearance of Dirk Dalebout results in relatively more reactions than other cases]
https://www.ad.nl/dordrecht/hierdoor-maakt-de-vermissing-van-dirk-dalebout-meer-los-dan-andere-zaken~acdd2aa7/?referrer=https://www.google.com/
11/08/2019 - Interview Dutch national newspaper Algemeen Dagblad
Bijna 300 vermiste Nederlanders: het kan ook jou overkomen [Nearly 300 missing Dutch people: it could also happen to you
https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/bijna-300-vermiste-nederlanders-het-kan-ook-jou-overkomen~a45b335a/
24/02/2019 - Interview Dutch national newspaper Volkskrant Magazine
"Ik zou zo graag willen horen uw kind is dood" [“I would like to hear your child is dead”]
https://www.volkskrant.nl/kijkverder/v/2019/ik-zou-zo-graag-willen-horen-uw-kind-is-dood/
16/02/2019 - Interview Dutch professional magazine "de Psycholoog"
Tussen hoop en vrees [In limbo]
https://www.tijdschriftdepsycholoog.nl/artikelen/tussen-hoop-en-vrees/
05/10/2018 - Interview Dutch national newspaper NRC Handelsblad
"Hardnekkige rouw om een vermiste" [Disturbing grief after someone is missing]
https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/06/18/hardnekkige-rouw-om-een-vermiste-a1606943
18/06/2018 - Online interview for Dutch national news NOS
Mensen die hoop houden na de vermissing van een dierbare hebben de meeste klachten [People who maintain hope after the disappearance of loved one have the highest distress]
https://nos.nl/op3/artikel/2196589-mensen-die-hoop-houden-na-de-vermissing-van-een-dierbare-hebben-de-meeste-klachten.html
06/10/2017 - Interview regional Dutch newspaper “de Stentor”
Achterblijvers van vermisten in therapie [Relatives of missing people in treatment]
www.destentor.nl/nieuws/achterblijvers-van-vermisten-in-therapie~a476fb96/
06/06/2016 - Live regional Dutch television interview Omroep Brabant
88 Brabanders langdurig vermist [88 people from the region Brabant are long-term missing]
https://youtu.be/kpWTcZs8P1E
04/01/2015
Contact Details
Visiting Address
University of Twente
Drienerlolaan 5
7522 NB Enschede
The Netherlands
Mailing Address
University of Twente
P.O. Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
The Netherlands