Our team
Prof. Willem (Wijo) Kop (figurehead health)
Prof. Maaike Kempes (figurehead safety)
What is your expertise and background?
I am professor of forensic neuropedagogy at the University Leiden and head Science and Education at the Dutch Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (NIFP). One of my focus areas is the relationship between neurocognitive development and delinquent behavior.
Why have you become the figurehead of NeurolabNL and what do you like about NeurolabNL?
I like to and I think it is important to bring cooperation between different disciplines in the fields of safety, in research as well as societal partners together. That also involves getting Ministries interested to invest in such initiatives. These last years, a lot of new knowledge in the areas of neuroscience has been developed. My ambition is to develop this knowledge in such a way that society partners can also use it in practice. NeurolabNL is a place where researchers in the fields of neuroscience, brain, cognition and behaviour, and societal partners can find each other to realise this.
What are your ambitions for NeurolabNL – what do you hope to achieve in the next 3 years and the next 10 years?
The ambition for the upcoming 3 years is to grow NeurolabNL into a platform where, within fundamental practical and oriented researchers from various disciplines can find each other more easily. In the area of research as well as sharing of knowledge. One example is the added value of knowledge about the development of the adolescent brain for issues in the field of handling delinquent behaviour within criminal law. In 10 years, it would be great if more interdisciplinary research will be performed regarding brain, cognition and behavior. It is important that this not only lead to new insights, but that it (where possible) actually contributes to solutions to societal issues concerning social safety.
A nice fact about Maaike
Whenever I can, I travel to the mountains to go trailrunning in nature on narrow trails and challenging terrain.
Prof. Richard van Wezel (figurehead fundamental)
What is your expertise and background?
Professor of Visual Neuroscience at the Donders Institute at Radboud University and professor of Neurophysiology at the University of Twente.
Why have you become the figurehead of NeurolabNL and what do you like about NeurolabNL?
It is important that researchers in the field of Neuroscience, Brain, Cognition and Behavior can easily find each other and form consortia together with patient associations, ministries and companies for proposals such as NWA. Fundamental research is the basis on which the newest ideas and techniques are emerging that are important for brain research and its applications in the coming decades and I would like to spread that message. I have enjoyed multidisciplinary research all my life. The nice thing about NeuroLabNL is that there is also a very wide range of partners involved with NeuroLabNL, which means that you will have to deal with very many different ideas.
What are your ambitions for NeurolabNL – what do you hope to achieve in the next 3 years and the next 10 years?
NeuroLabNL will play an important role in initiating and facilitating networks in the field of brain research, cognition and behavior. I hope that in the coming years we can help researchers to link fundamental brain research to questions that arise from NWA and the social partners such as ministries, patient associations and the business community. For the next 10 years I hope that the impact of that fundamental knowledge about the brain has grown so much that we come to relevant solutions in the field of brain diseases, desired behavioral changes and new technology, think for example of better treatment methods for dementia and the disease of Parkinson’s that so many people in our society have or have to deal with.
A nice fact about Richard
I like to cycle on a racing bike and try, if possible, to cycle to European congresses and for my commute between Nijmegen and Enschede (which is further than most people think …).
Prof. Lydia Krabbendam (figurehead education)
What is your expertise and background?
I am a professor of neuropsychology and I am concerned with the development of social cognition in adolescents, the relationship between brain development and social development, and how this development is related to functioning in social relationships. I am not only interested in normal development, but also in abnormal development, as adolescence is the phase in which various forms of psychopathology first occur.
Why have you become the figurehead of NeurolabNL and what do you like about NeurolabNL?
NeurolabNL offers a platform to researchers who want to work together to achieve social impact. Not only with each other, but also with social partners such as ministries, education and business. That makes NeurolabNL unique. A strong point of NeurolabNL is also that we represent fundamental research in addition to the social themes.
What are your ambitions for NeurolabNL – what do you hope to achieve in the next 3 years and the next 10 years?
In the coming years, we will invest in building up the network and developing projects with which we can make the connection between the scientific and social partners. I expect that in three years’ time we will be able to find each other much easier and also be better able to understand each other’s language. In education there is an enormous amount of interest in research into the brain and cognition. I hope that in 10 years’ time we can actually use the enormous amount of knowledge that we already have about the structure and function of the brain and about cognitive development to improve education.
A nice fact about Lydia
I did pencak silat for a long time and I still like to watch all kinds of martial arts.
Dr. Rob Heinsbroek (contactperson NWA)
What is your expertise and background?
I am a policy officer at the Dutch Reseach Council (NWO) and have worked on many programs in the field of brain functioning and behavior and applications of brain knowledge in social practice. This also fits well with my neurobiological background. In the development of the Dutch National Research Agenda (NWA), I have been able to contribute, together with colleagues, to the bundling of many questions in the field of brain functioning and behavior. That later became the NeuroLabNL route.
What do you like about NeurolabNL?
NWO has contacts for all routes. That is a nice construction for our NWO work. This way we know more about the routes internally and we can think more effectively and work on good deployment of routes. We as contact persons are not route tractors or supporters of figureheads, the routes are on their own. That is good and also provides room for assisting with contact between routes. I really enjoy being a contact person for NeuroLabNL. The scientific and social ambitions of the route fit in well with my other NWO tasks and I enjoy working together with the people in this field.
What are your ambitions for NeurolabNL – what do you hope to achieve in the next 3 years and the next 10 years?
The NeuroLabNL community has always been strong in quality, organization and ambitions. In my opinion, large and difficult projects are the need to better understand the fundamental functioning of the brain, in combination with the complexity of being able to do something practical with that concept. Brain knowledge for better education, more safety and health is a very strong and convincing prospect, but still has many hurdles to go, including ethical and social ones. Working on easily accessible contacts and connections between all research parties, policy and practice is of great value. NeuroLabNL plays a good role in this, which can certainly develop even further.
A nice fact about Rob
A few years ago I joined a drawing and painting group in my hometown of Alkmaar. A large sheet of paper, charcoal, brushes and paints for a few hours a week in the evening. A wonderful discovery to find out how fun and relaxing that is.
Wessel Hieselaar (contactperson NWA)
What is your expertise and background?
After a Bachelor’s in artificial intelligence and a Master’s in cognitive neuroscience, I now work for quite some time as policy officer at NWO. There am I, in the life science team of the ENW domain, involved in several programmes, such as the Open Competition, Veni, Communication Initiative Award, and also as contact person for NeurolabNL.
What do you like about NeurolabNL?
Neuroscience in general is fascinating, and immensely broad. I enjoy the interdisciplinary collaboration that is necessary to obtain insight into the brain, and the interaction with societal partners to actually do something with it. It is a field where applications are possible in many areas, and NeurolabNL encourages all these kinds of collaborations. As route contact person, I can contribute to this with great pleasure.
What are your ambitions for NeurolabNL – what do you hope to achieve in the next 3 years and the next 10 years?
I am impressed with the autonomy and enthousiasm with which NeurolabNL already functions. There is a large, lively network of young and senior scientists and societal partners. I hope that NeurolabNL and its network will continue to develop into a platform for interaction between scientists who are engaged in all aspects of the brain; into a place where you can transfer from exact science to social and vice versa, and to applications.
A nice fact about Wessel
In Nijmegen I played Bossaball for a while, a mix of volleyball, soccer, and gymnastics, and that on a large moon bounce with a trampoline in the middle.
Dr. Julia Henrich (coordinator NeurolabNL)
What is your expertise and background?
I have a PhD in health psychology. The theme of my PhD research was mindfulness and how mindfulness helps people with chronic pain – this research was at the intersection of experimental cognitive and medical psychology. How your mind influences your body (and vice versa) I find super interesting. I am driven to use knowledge about the connection between mind and body to help people live healthily.
What do you like about NeurolabNL?
NeurolabNL wants to connect the knowledge of neuroscience and behavioral science with the needs and wishes of society. The researchers at NeurolabNL want to achieve this by working together with other knowledge institutes, companies and ministries. This approach produces many creative ideas.
What are your ambitions for NeurolabNL – what do you hope to achieve in the next 3 years and the next 10 years?
In the coming 3 years I hope that NeurolabNL starts many new, creative projects and that we can build lively relationships between scientists from the neuroscience and behavioral sciences, companies and other social partners. In ten years I hope that NeurolabNL has created visible added value – for example, that people live a healthier, safer life.
A nice fact about Julia
I am also a yoga teacher and have been teaching yoga for 5 years – first in Amsterdam and then in Oxford (where I obtained my PhD)
Loes Ottink (coordinator NeurolabNL)
What is your expertise and background?
I have a Bachelor in Biology and a Master in Cognitive Neuroscience. At the moment I’m in the last phase of my PhD, which is about spatial navigation and memory. I’m investigating how people with a visual impairment integrate information about their environment into a mental map to find their way.
What do you like about NeurolabNL?
NeurolabNL wants to bring researchers from different fields together, and connect science to (questions from) society. That connection to practical issues is what I find interesting in my own research as well. The group of NeurolabNL consists of open and enthousiastic people, and is a platform where interesting and creative ideas arise.
What are your ambitions for NeurolabNL – what do you hope to achieve in the next 3 years and the next 10 years?
In 3 years I hope that the network of NeurolabNL has grown even more, where societal projects, companies and organisations are involved. In 10 years, it would be great if projects founded by NeurolabNL have actually contributed to societal issues. I hope that neuroscience will become more accessible and that there will be more understanding of science by a general audience.
A nice fact about Loes
I like to play music (piano and singing), and I dance a lot, mostly classical ballet.
Dr. Annelinde van den Broucke (coordinator Startimpulse)
What is your expertise and background?
I have a PhD in neuroscience, in the field of visual awareness, memory and attention. In addition, I gained a lot of knowledge about MRI techniques and fundamental research. Within NeuroLabNL I am concerned with the connection with society: how can fundamental research be enriched by social issues and how can research results find a place in society?
What do you like about NeurolabNL?
NeuroLabNL consists of very enthusiastic researchers and professionals. There is a shared desire to connect neuroscience with society. It is a group that works very inclusive and is always open to new ideas. Opportunities are created from NeuroLabNL.
What are your ambitions for NeurolabNL – what do you hope to achieve in the next 3 years and the next 10 years?
In the coming 3 years I hope that the Startimpuls projects (optimal conditions for education and safety of young people) will land well, but also make a good start. That the connections that have now been made continue to exist and bear fruit. In 10 years I hope that NeuroLabNL has grown in terms of the number of partners and research projects, into a research center that connects people and where impactful research is being done. That it is an established network in the Dutch research and social field.
A nice fact about Annelinde
I like to travel: both through the Netherlands for work (with my laptop you can find me from “De Huiskamer” at the station in Driebergen to the station in Leiden, The Hague, Amsterdam and Utrecht), as well as across the world with an adventure backpack