E.Y. Bijlsma

Dr. E.Y. (Liesbeth) Bijlsma is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Utrecht University (UU), with a focus on both Pharmacology and Higher Education Research. She contributes to interdisciplinary teaching, curriculum development, and educational innovation, particularly emphasizing blended learning and collaborative learning in on-campus and international online settings.

Her research explores the relationship between learning communities and study success in diverse student populations, aiming to optimize social learning environments. Additionally, she investigates neuropharmacological mechanisms, including roles of CRF and serotonin in emotion regulation, fear learning, and anxiety-related behaviors using animal models.

Recent publications highlight systematic reviews on SSRIs' effects on fear/anxiety, neuroimmunology gaps (TNF-α), and academic functioning during the pandemic. She has also contributed to educational design frameworks for online collaborative learning and psychopharmacological studies on contextual fear and genetic polymorphisms.

Key collaborators include researchers from UU, University of Amsterdam, and Hogeschool van Utrecht. Her work bridges biomedical research and pedagogical innovation, focusing on translating theoretical insights into practical educational strategies.