As a researcher, I investigate the effect of parenting programs on children's DNA methylation and disruptive behavior. My work helps us understand how parenting affects children's development and where we can intervene to make lasting changes to children's wellbeing. It forms part of the project 'Growing up in Amsterdam' funded by NWO.
I began my doctoral work in September 2019 supervised by Prof Geertjan Overbeek and Dr Patty Leijten (Preventive Youth Care). Prior to that, I received my research masters degree in Developmental Psychology from Leiden University and my bachelor degree in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences from the University of Cambridge. Much of my earlier work focused on understanding the neurological and cognitive mechanisms that underlie the effects of adverse experiences on mental health.
In April 2020, I launched the Covid-19 Family Study, which provides organizations with up-to-date information about the impact of the pandemic on Dutch families. In January 2021, we published a report on family coping during the pandemic in The Netherlands - a copy can be found on this page.