Hedderik van Rijn

Hedderik van Rijn is a Professor at the Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, and chair of "Cognitive Science and Neurosciences." His research focuses on temporal cognition, exploring how time influences cognitive processing, memory, and decision-making through behavioral, neuroimaging (fMRI, EEG, MEG), and computational modeling approaches. He develops methods like the adaptive learning system SlimStampen/RuggedLearning, which personalizes fact-learning using cognitive models and is used by 800,000+ students in the Netherlands.

• University: University of Groningen
• Department: Department of Psychology
• Academic Rank: Professor

Van Rijn's research spans computational models of interval timing, cognitive control mechanisms, and applications in education and public health. He integrates symbolic process models (ACT-R) with neurobiological data, particularly in Drosophila studies, to uncover genetic bases of temporal processing. His work on time perception has theoretical and practical implications, from understanding neural substrates to real-world applications in skill training and language processing.

His recent publications highlight interdisciplinary collaborations in temporal cognition, memory dynamics, and educational technology. Key themes include the interplay between time perception and cognitive load, the development of adaptive algorithms for learning, and the neural correlates of timing and decision-making. His lab's focus on deconvolving pupillary responses and modeling multi-tasking scenarios underscores methodological innovation.

Scientific Awards:

• VICI grant (NWO Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research)

Van Rijn has supervised numerous PhD students whose work spans pronoun processing, interval timing, Bayesian optimization of learning systems, and clinical applications of timing research. He collaborates with institutions like Noordhoff Publishers and the University Medical Center Groningen, and is a founding director of SlimStampen B.V., a spin-off commercializing adaptive learning principles. His grants include NWO, Horizon 2020, and John Templeton Foundation support.