Eva-Maria Merz

Eva-Maria Merz is a Full Professor of Sociology at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She holds a dual appointment in Civil Society and Philanthropy (CSPh). Her research focuses on donor behavior, prosocial behavior, and public health, with a specialization in blood donation dynamics. She leads the ERC-funded 'Who Gives Life?' project and collaborates with Sanquin Research and the Netherlands Association of Donor Medicine.

Education: PhD in Developmental Psychology (VU Amsterdam, 2008), Master’s in Social Sciences (cum laude, Free University of Berlin, 2003), and prior medical studies. Her work addresses biological, psychological, and social determinants of donation behaviors across lifespans.

Research interests include donor life-courses, network influences on prosocial acts, and ethical dimensions of gene therapies. Recent work explores digital engagement (e.g., Facebook campaigns) and school-based blood donation education. She has secured over €4M in grants, including the ERC Starting Grant (€1.27M) and multiple Sanquin grants.

Her awards include the 2014 NWO Aspasia Grant and 2012 ESFR Young Scientist Award. She advises on donor policy through ancillary roles at Sanquin Research and serves on the Female Talent Committee.

Key collaborations span Europe and the US, including the University of Chicago’s CHICAGO STUDY. She leads the Dutch Donor Cohort (DuDoCo) initiative to create precision donor care frameworks.