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Kris Baetens is a Professor in the Department of Psychology Brain, Body and Cognition at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). His research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying social cognition, mentalization, and inhibitory control, particularly exploring the role of the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex in these processes. He employs techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), EEG, and fMRI to investigate cognitive and clinical phenomena. Leading projects like ANI423 (neural correlates of inhibitory control in adolescents) and FWOAL1160 (cerebellum's role in social cognition). Recipient of the EUTOPIA Young Leaders Academy fellowship (2024-2026). Active collaborations in the PRISM network for mental health research. Key research interests include: - Cerebellar contributions to cognitive and social functions - Neurostimulation techniques for mental health interventions - Mentalizing processes in social action prediction - Personality and learning mechanisms His articles consistently analyze the interplay between neural structures like the cerebellum and behavioral outcomes in clinical and cognitive contexts. Recent work emphasizes applications of tDCS in treating alcohol use disorders and disordered eating, highlighting translational research in non-invasive brain stimulation. Advising/Grants: Supervises student research projects and manages grants from FWO and OZR agencies. Labs/Teams: Core member of the PRISM network and involved in the EUTOPIA fellowship initiative.

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• +3 more

Hilde Colpin serves as a Full Professor in the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at KU Leuven, where she leads the School Psychology and Development in Context research unit. She holds dual affiliations with the KU Leuven Institute for Child and Youth (LC&Y) and the KU Leuven Institute for Educational Research (LIVO), and serves on the PPW Faculty Council, Bachelor Psychology Program Committee, and Master Psychology Program Committee. Her research investigates the interplay between teacher-student and peer relationships within school contexts and their impact on children's social-emotional development and mental health. Specializing in identity-based bullying prevention and interventions for vulnerable youth—including children with refugee and migration backgrounds—she develops evidence-based frameworks for collaborative family-school partnerships. Her work bridges developmental theory with practical classroom applications. Her 2025 publications reveal a cohesive focus on relational dynamics in educational settings, with recurring themes of teacher connective practices, bullying intervention efficacy, and adolescent mental health outcomes. These works employ mixed-methods approaches across diverse age groups and school systems, consistently emphasizing the dual influence of teachers and peers on student well-being. Key outputs include validated measurement tools like the TAP-S questionnaire and the CONNECTIONS in CLASS research report for schools. Professor Colpin currently directs nine major research projects as promoter or co-promoter, including 'Primary Prejudice' (addressing identity-based bullying, 2023-2027) and 'CONNECTIES in the CLASS' (examining relationship dynamics, 2022-2026). She mentors students through courses such as 'Prevention: Children and Youth' and clinical practicum supervision in educational psychology. She spearheads the CONNECTIONS in CLASS (CiC) research initiative, which investigates how teacher-student and peer relationships interact to shape adolescents' mental health. This program produces actionable tools for educators and informs policy through its school-based implementation framework.

• Educational Psychology
• School Psychology
• Child and Adolescent Development
• +5 more

Dr. Alison Mary is an FNRS Research Associate at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Faculty of Psychological and Educational Sciences, Department of Neuropsychology, since October 2023. She is affiliated with the Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Research Unit (UR2NF), which operates within the Centre de Recherche Cerveau et Cognition (CRCN) and the ULB Neurosciences Institute (UNI). Her research focuses on memory processes and their cerebral underpinnings, particularly in the context of healthy aging and resilience following acute stress. Dr. Mary completed her PhD in January 2016 at UR2nF/CRCN under Professor Philippe Peigneux. From November 2016 to October 2019, she conducted postdoctoral research at the U1077 Unit (Neuropsychology and Imaging of Human Memory – NIMH) in Caen, France, under Dr. Pierre Gagnepain, investigating neurobiological markers of resilience in survivors of the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks. Dr. Mary's research centers on understanding brain mechanisms supporting memory processes in healthy aging using functional connectivity and resting state networks. She investigates non-pharmacological stimulation strategies, particularly transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation, to promote neuroplasticity and memory in aging populations. Her work examines how sleep architecture, meditation, and cognitive training impact memory processes in older adults, employing advanced neuroimaging techniques including MEG and EEG. Analysis of Dr. Mary's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the intersection of memory, aging, and neuroimaging. Her research increasingly incorporates transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation to enhance memory processes, while examining how sleep architecture relates to memory consolidation. She also investigates cognitive resilience following acute stress and trauma, exploring neural mechanisms that preserve memory function despite traumatic experiences. FNRS Research Associate Fellowship (2023-present) FNRS Postdoctoral Fellowship (2019-2023) Dr. Mary actively supervises doctoral research, including Benkirane's work on sleep fragmentation and cognition, and Hamel's research on sleep characteristics in older adults. She collaborates extensively within the UR2NF research unit and with international colleagues on memory, aging, and neuroimaging projects. Her laboratory utilizes MEG, EEG, and functional MRI to investigate brain mechanisms underlying memory processes, with future work likely focusing on personalized non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive aging.

• Memory
• Neuroimaging
• Aging
• +6 more

Laurence Claes is a Professor and Head of Clinical Psychology at KU Leuven's Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. His academic career spans multiple research domains with a focus on psychopathology, particularly eating disorders and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), examined through the lens of identity formation processes. He maintains strong affiliations with the LC&Y - KU Leuven Institute for Child and Youth and serves on several important committees including the Faculty Doctoral Committee for Psychology and Educational Sciences as ombudswoman for KU Leuven staff. Professor Claes' research primarily investigates the complex relationship between identity development and various forms of psychopathology, with special attention to adolescents and emerging adults. His work consistently demonstrates how identity processes serve as both risk and protective factors across multiple clinical presentations. He employs diverse methodologies including longitudinal studies, ecological momentary assessment, and both community and clinical samples to examine these relationships. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent thematic patterns across his work. His research shows strong connections between identity functioning and eating disorders, non-suicidal self-injury, body image concerns, and personality pathology. He frequently examines how identity processes mediate relationships between other psychological constructs and clinical outcomes. His work spans multiple contexts including cancer survivorship, athletic performance, and digital environments. Professor Claes actively supervises numerous doctoral candidates and collaborates extensively with researchers both within KU Leuven (particularly with Koen Luyckx) and internationally. His work appears in high-impact journals across psychology, psychiatry, and related fields, demonstrating the transdisciplinary nature of his research. His teaching responsibilities include courses on clinical diagnostics for adults and the elderly (P0V88A, P0X60A), psychological interventions (P0W42A, P0N41B), single-case research (P0X93A), and clinical psychology practicum (P0Y05A, P0W57A, P0Y08A), indicating his commitment to both research and clinical training.

• Psychopathology
• Eating Disorders
• Non-suicidal Self-injury
• +5 more

Ellen Gorus is a Professor at the Department of Personality and Psychopathology at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), specializing in gerontology and clinical psychology. She conducts research on Alzheimer’s disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, active ageing in frail elderly, and suicide risk assessment in older adults, with an h-index of 21. Her clinical work focuses on cognitive and emotional assessment of geriatric patients at UZ Brussel’s Geriatric Dayhospital. 2025: Biopsychosocial profiles of suicidal elderly 2024: Digital health technologies for neurocognitive disorders Research interests encompass early Alzheimer’s detection, psychosocial aspects of physical activity in frail elderly, and eHealth solutions for older adults. Her projects include collaborations with Québecois institutions and longitudinal studies on suicide risk in Flanders. Scientific awards : Best Oral Communication (2006) Gerontological Thesis Prize (2002) Psychogeriatric Award (2008)

• Gerontology
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Mild Cognitive Impairment
• +7 more

Ronny Bruffaerts serves as a Professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Medicine within the Department of Neuroscience. He leads the Psychiatry Research Group (ON5 unit) and holds significant institutional roles including membership on the Faculty Council of Medicine, Doctoral Committee for Medicine, and Departmental Council of Neurosciences. His work is integrated with major university institutes including the KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI) and the Institute for Child and Youth (LC&Y). Primary Affiliation: Psychiatry Research Group, Department of Neuroscience Institute Memberships: KU Leuven Brain Institute, Institute for Child and Youth Governance Roles: Faculty Council, Doctoral Committee, Departmental Council Bruffaerts' research focuses on psychiatric epidemiology with specialization in emergency psychiatry, research methodology, and psychological diagnostics. His work examines mental health patterns in college student populations globally through the World Mental Health International College Student initiative. Key investigations include suicidal behavior trajectories, mental disorder comorbidity, childhood adversity impacts, and LGBTQ+ mental health disparities across diverse cultural contexts. His methodological expertise spans longitudinal modeling, cross-national survey design, and machine learning applications for risk prediction. Analysis of his recent publications reveals dominant research trends in global college student mental health, with emphasis on longitudinal disorder progression, cross-cultural comparisons of mental health service utilization, and innovative applications of machine learning for suicide risk prediction. His work consistently leverages large multicountry datasets from the World Mental Health surveys, demonstrating strong methodological rigor in epidemiological study design. Bruffaerts actively leads multiple major research projects including: Psychische stoornissen bij transplantatiepatiënten (2025-2029) Middelengebruik en -misbruik bij universiteitsstudenten (2023-2027) Evaluatie van Psychiatrische High and Intensive Care in België (2023-2027) Perinatale depressie: Van prevalentie tot preventie (2022-2026) His projects typically involve international collaborations and focus on translating epidemiological findings into clinical practice improvements, particularly regarding mental health monitoring systems and innovative care models. He contributes to mental health infrastructure through development of the public health monitor for mental health (2022-2024) and evaluation of psychiatric high-care models in Belgium. His work bridges population-level epidemiology with clinical implementation, particularly in emergency psychiatry contexts and university mental health services.

• Psychiatric Epidemiology
• Emergency Psychiatry
• Mental Health Research Methodology
• +3 more

Beatrijs Van den Bergh serves as a Visiting Professor at KU Leuven with primary affiliations in the Health Psychology unit and dual membership in the KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI) and KU Leuven Institute for Child and Youth (LC&Y). Her research program centers on perinatal mental health and developmental pathways from maternal prenatal anxiety to offspring outcomes. Her core research interests include: self- and co-regulation dynamics in dysregulated families; neurodevelopmental impacts of prenatal stress; mindful parenting interventions; epigenetic mechanisms (e.g., NR3C1 methylation); and preventive strategies for infant self-regulation. She employs multimodal methodologies spanning neuroimaging, behavioral observation, and longitudinal cohort analysis. Analysis of her 2023-2025 publications reveals strong thematic continuity in studying maternal-offspring biobehavioral synchrony, with increasing emphasis on intervention frameworks and environmental moderators like green spaces. Her work consistently bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications in mental healthcare. Dr. Van den Bergh currently co-promotes two major funded projects: Self- and co-regulation dynamics in dysregulated families (2023-2028), employing laboratory-to-home multimodal assessment, and Supporting infant self-regulation development (2023-2027), focused on preventive mental healthcare strategies. She maintains active international collaborations evidenced by presentations at the Marcé Society and WAIMH conferences. As a core member of KU Leuven's Health Psychology research unit, she contributes to interdisciplinary teams within the Brain Institute and Child and Youth Institute, frequently collaborating with neuroscientists, clinicians, and public health researchers on translational studies presented at venues including the European Society for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.

• Perinatal Mental Health
• Self-Regulation
• Child Development
• +3 more

Katrijn Brenning is a Professor at Ghent University, focusing on developmental psychology, self-determination theory, and adolescent mental health. Her research explores how psychological need satisfaction and emotion regulation influence adolescent well-being, parenting dynamics, and psychopathology. Key Research Areas: Self-determination theory, adolescence, attachment, depressive symptoms, autonomy support, emotion regulation, parenting Notable Collaborations: Bart Soenens, Maarten Vansteenkiste, Barbara De Clercq, Nele Laporte Her recent work (2022–2024) examines need crafting in educational and familial contexts during stress (e.g., pandemics), linking these to mental health outcomes. She also investigates parental burnout and emotion regulation in work-family conflicts. Dr. Brenning supervises PhD candidates such as Daphne van den Bogaard (2024) and Nele Laporte (2022), contributing to interventions for optimizing adolescent well-being. While no scientific awards are explicitly listed, her extensive co-authorship network and longitudinal studies highlight her impact in developmental and clinical psychology.

• Developmental Psychology
• Self-Determination Theory
• Attachment
• +4 more

Filip Bouckaert is a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven. His research focuses on neuropsychiatry, particularly late-life depression and the neurobiological effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Research areas include brain stimulation techniques, neuroimaging, and cognitive improvement in psychiatric disorders. He leads and co-promotes projects like From Stimulation to Restoration (2025-2028) and multimodal PET-MRI studies in late-life depression. His teaching includes courses like Advanced Psychopathology in Children and Adults and problem-solving modules in adult psychiatry.

• Neuropsychiatry
• Late-Life Depression
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
• +4 more

Zahra Azadfar is a postdoctoral researcher at the Brussels University Consultation Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with the Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on clinical psychology with emphasis on adolescent mental health, emotion regulation, and self-injurious behavior, incorporating cross-cultural comparisons between Iran and Belgium. Her research interests span Clinical Psychology, Psychometrics, Cross-cultural Psychology, Emotion Regulation, Self-Injurious Behavior, and Mental Health in Adolescents. She investigates parenting practices, cultural orientation, and therapeutic interventions like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) using longitudinal designs and network analysis to dissect complex psychological phenomena. Her work frequently examines the interplay between psychological constructs and cultural contexts in mental health outcomes. Analysis of her 2023-2025 publications reveals a strong trend toward benchmarking therapeutic approaches for mental well-being, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and addressing cultural factors in psychological assessment. She has made significant contributions to understanding non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), sleep problems, and emotional regulation in diverse adolescent populations including those in juvenile justice systems, often employing cross-national comparisons between Iran and Belgium. Azadfar actively collaborates with researchers including Imke Baetens and Lisa Van Hove at VUB, presenting her work at international conferences on topics like suicidal behaviors and emotion regulation in adjudicated youth. She has contributed to multiple datasets in the VUB Institutional Data Repository, demonstrating commitment to open science and collaborative research in clinical psychology.

• Clinical Psychology
• Psychometrics
• Cross-cultural Psychology
• +3 more

Dr. Lisa Dieleman is a researcher at Ghent University , focusing on parenting behavior, child development, and psychological needs in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders. She has collaborated extensively with academic colleagues such as Bart Soenens Sarah De Pauw Peter Prinzie Katrijn Brenning Maarten Vansteenkiste in longitudinal studies spanning autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. Her research explores: Autonomy-supportive vs. controlling parenting Emotion regulation in parents and children Psychological needs theory in developmental contexts Cross-disability comparisons Longitudinal modeling of behavioral outcomes Key publication trends include: Use of multi-wave longitudinal designs (up to 10 waves) Focus on daily diary methods for capturing micro-level parenting dynamics Integration of self-determination theory with clinical populations Analysis of bidirectional relationships between parenting and child adjustment Major collaborations include work with the Ghent University research group on developmental psychopathology and special educational needs.

• Developmental Psychology
• Parenting Behavior
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• +6 more

Emilie Caspar is an Associate Professor at Ghent University (Belgium), specializing in cognitive and social neuroscience. Her research primarily focuses on voluntary actions, sense of agency, responsibility, empathy, and moral decision-making. She leads research at the CO3 lab, which investigates the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and social behavior. Dr. Caspar completed her master's degree in neuropsychology and cognitive psychology, along with a certificate in forensic sciences and psychiatry. She earned her PhD in social and cognitive neurosciences from the Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) under the supervision of Axel Cleeremans. Following her PhD, she conducted postdoctoral research at University College London (UK) in Patrick Haggard's lab and later received a prestigious Marie-Curie Individual Fellowship for a 2-year postdoc at the Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences with Christian Keysers and Valeria Gazzola. Her research investigates how obedience to authority changes individual cognition and moral behaviors, with a particular focus on the neuro-cognitive mechanisms that prevent individuals from complying with immoral orders. Dr. Caspar has pioneered innovative experimental approaches to study disobedience to authority that comply with modern ethical standards. Her work extends beyond traditional WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) populations to include diverse groups such as inmates, military personnel, and survivors/perpetrators of genocide. This global perspective allows her to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the societal impact of obedience and moral decision-making. Dr. Caspar employs a diverse methodological toolkit including behavioral experiments, EEG, ERPs, TFR, fMRI, robotics, and brain-computer interfaces to investigate questions related to free will, voluntary action, and the sense of agency. Her research spans multiple domains including forensic psychology, psychopathology, antisocial behaviors, moral consciousness, and applications in robotics and prosthetics. Dr. Caspar has received notable recognition including a Marie-Curie Individual Fellowship, which supported her postdoctoral research at the Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences. Her work has been published in high-impact journals including Nature Communications, Scientific Reports, and PLOS ONE. As a scientific consultant through Be Brain Consultancy, Dr. Caspar applies her expertise in behavioral neuroscience to humanitarian and societal projects focused on preventing blind obedience and promoting peace-building. She collaborates with NGOs and non-academic institutions to translate her research into practical applications. Her lab website (https://moralsocialbrain.com/) provides additional information about her research team and ongoing projects.

• Voluntary actions
• sense of agency
• responsibility
• +14 more

Olivier Colins is a Professor at the Department of Special Needs Education within the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at Ghent University since 2020. He previously held a senior researcher and assistant professor position at Leiden University Medical Center (2008–2018). His academic journey includes studies in Social Work and Special Needs Education, culminating in a PhD. Research Interests : Colins specializes in forensic screening, mental health assessment, and developmental trajectories of conduct problems and psychopathy in juveniles. His work explores risk factors, protective factors, and subtyping models (e.g., DSM-5 Limited Prosocial Emotions specifier) for conduct disorders. Grants : Leads two FWO-funded projects— Odysseus Program (2019–2023) and Junior Project (2021–2025) —investigating gender differences in criminal justice-involved youth. Collaborations : Works with international teams on cross-cultural validation studies (e.g., Greece, China, Spain) and neuroimaging analyses of amygdala networks in conduct-disordered youth. Key Publication Trends : Recent articles focus on multi-informant psychopathy models (e.g., STAR, multidimensional constructs), epigenetic markers for aggression, and longitudinal studies linking parenting styles to callous-unemotional traits. His work bridges clinical assessment, developmental neuroscience, and criminology.

• Forensic Psychology
• Child Psychiatry
• Criminology
• +7 more

Dirk Hermans is a Professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences , KU Leuven , Belgium. He is a Clinical Psychologist and Behavior Therapist with a focus on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and experimental psychopathology. Currently, he serves as Director of the Research Unit 'Behavior, Health and Psychopathology' Director of KU Leuven's postgraduate CBT training Principal Investigator for the KU Leuven Center for Excellence (Generalization Research) Principal Investigator for KU Leuven's C1 program 'Extinction, Avoidance, Generalization' Research Interests His work centers on autobiographical memory and psychopathology and associative mechanisms of fear (extinction, generalization, avoidance). Key subfields include Exposure therapy for anxiety and related disorders Virtual reality applications in adolescent mental health Implementation science for evidence-based practices Posttraumatic stress in high-risk professions Repetitive negative thinking in emotional disorders Scientific Contributions Recent publications explore mechanisms in exposure therapy, virtual reality interventions for social anxiety in adolescents, and predictive models linking fear extinction to anxiety outcomes. His research is funded by grants such as KU Leuven Center for Excellence Hercules Foundation infrastructure grants European Meeting of Human Fear Conditioning Notable Awards Fellow, Association for Psychological Science (2010–present) Fellow, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (2017–present)

• Clinical Psychology
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Psychopathology
• +5 more

Chris Develder is an Associate Professor with the research group IDLab in the Department of Information Technology (INTEC) at Ghent University - imec, Ghent, Belgium. He received his MSc degree in computer science engineering and PhD in electrical engineering from Ghent University in Jul. 1999 and Dec. 2003 respectively (as a fellow of FWO). He has held research visitor positions at UC Davis, CA, USA (Jul.-Oct. 2007) and at Columbia University, NY, USA (Jan. 2013 - Jun. 2015). Prof. Develder leads two research teams within the Internet Technology and Data Science Lab (IDLab): one focused on converting text to knowledge (NLP, primarily information extraction using machine learning), and another on data analytics and machine learning for smart grids. His Text-to-Knowledge (T2K) research group has a strong track record in information extraction across various domains including news, human resources, and biomedical applications, as well as text classification tasks such as sentiment analysis. More recently, the group has expanded into conversational agents and generative models for educational applications. With his team, Prof. Develder has published over 200 papers in international journals and conferences including EMNLP, CoNLL, EACL, ACL, ECIR, CIKM, WSDM, WWW, and NIPS. His recent publications demonstrate a growing focus on practical applications of NLP in healthcare (personality style recognition from speech, biomedical adverse drug event extraction), education (question generation, gap-filling exercises), and labor market analysis (career path prediction, skill extraction). His work bridges theoretical advances in machine learning with real-world applications across multiple domains. Prof. Develder actively supervises PhD students and has co-supervised numerous successful doctorates, including Maarten De Raedt (2024), Semere Kiros Bitew (2024), Yiwei Jiang (2024), Amir Hadifar (2023), and Klim Zaporojets (2022). His former students have gone on to work at organizations including EarlyTracks, Zoom, Nokia Bell Labs, Clarivate, and various academic institutions.

• Natural language processing
• Information extraction
• Smart grid
• +2 more