Mohamed Ajouaou is an Assistant Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's Faculty of Religion and Theology, specializing in Religious Beliefs and Ethics. His research examines Islamic theology within contemporary European contexts. Research focuses on Islamic spiritual care practices, theological ethics in healthcare, and Muslim community dynamics in the Netherlands. Recent publications investigate vaccination ethics during pandemics and pedagogical approaches to religious literacy. Analysis of publications reveals strong emphasis on practical theology, Muslim identity in secular societies, and ethical frameworks for community engagement. No specific awards documented. Teaching includes the graduate course 'Islamitische theologie/Kalam' (Islamic Theology). Leads projects like 'Professionaliseringsprogramma Imams in Nederland 3' focusing on clergy education reform. Frequently contributes expert commentary on Islamic practices in Dutch media regarding fasting, conversion narratives, and religious education policy.
Bart Wallet is Professor of Jewish Studies specializing in Early Modern and Modern Jewish History at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Humanities, where he is affiliated with the Department of Semitic Languages and Cultures. His academic work focuses on the intricate relationship between Jewish communities and Dutch society throughout history, with particular emphasis on the connections between the Dutch Royal House and Jewish communities. Wallet's research interests span Dutch Jewish history from the early modern period to the contemporary era, with special attention to Yiddish studies, religious history, cultural integration, and the development of Jewish identity in the Netherlands. His scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on how Jewish communities navigated their position as a religious minority within Dutch society, particularly examining the complex dynamics between Jewish citizens and the Dutch state and monarchy. His work often explores the tension between religious tradition and modernization, and how Jewish communities maintained their identity while integrating into broader Dutch society. Analysis of his recent publications shows a strong thematic concentration on Orange-Jewish relations throughout Dutch history, Jewish military service, religious education, and the material culture of Jewish communities. His scholarship demonstrates a methodological approach that combines cultural history with religious studies, often revealing how seemingly mundane aspects of daily life reflect broader societal patterns of integration and identity formation. The geographic focus remains predominantly on the Netherlands, though with comparative perspectives on Jewish communities in other European contexts. Professor Wallet has been active in public scholarship through media appearances, radio programs, and contributions to encyclopedias. His work has appeared in both academic journals and public-facing media outlets, demonstrating his commitment to making Jewish history accessible to broader audiences. He has contributed to numerous radio programs on Jewish history for Dutch Jewish radio stations and has written for newspapers including the Reformatorisch Dagblad. His academic contributions include extensive work on Dutch-Jewish relations, particularly focusing on the relationship between Jewish communities and the Dutch Royal House throughout history. He has also produced significant scholarship on Jewish integration in Dutch society, religious education, and the development of Jewish identity in the Netherlands from the early modern period to the present day. His work often examines how Jewish communities maintained religious traditions while adapting to changing social and political contexts.
Silvia Castelli is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Religion and Theology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She specializes in New Testament studies and Early Judaism, with a focus on textual criticism and Jewish-Greek literature. Her affiliations include the research teams 'New Testament and Christian Origins' and 'Contextual Biblical Interpretation.' She holds a dual PhD in Jewish Studies (University of Turin) and a second PhD on NT textual criticism (VU Amsterdam, 2020). Education includes MA and PhD studies in Classical Studies and Jewish Studies, with fellowships at the Leibniz Institute (Mainz), Hebrew University (Jerusalem), and Yale. She has taught at institutions like the University of Trento and Leiden University, coordinating Greek language courses at VU. Research interests span NT textual criticism methodologies, Josephus' biblical interpretations, and intersections between biblical hermeneutics and spiritual care. Recent work explores 'patientia' (patience) in antiquity and collaborates on projects about imperial responses in Roman historiography. Awards include the Aurelio Bernardi Prize (1997), Lady Davies Fellowship (2001), and the 2020 Brill publication of her second PhD. She supervises three PhD students and chairs the SBL unit on 'Biblical Studies and Spiritual Care.'
Dr. Mariske Westendorp is an Assistant Professor in Cultural Anthropology at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University. She specializes in the anthropology of religion, urban deathscapes, and migration studies. Her work examines intersections of religion, urbanization, and cultural practices, particularly focusing on burial spaces, migrant communities, and religious materiality. She co-authored New Perspectives on Urban Deathscapes (2023) and contributed to research on Islamic burial practices in Europe and translocal cemetery dynamics. Research Interests: Her research explores lived religion in urban contexts, including death rituals, religious materiality, and public contestations over sacred spaces. She investigates how urbanization shapes religious practices and vice versa, with a focus on Hong Kong, Europe, and Asia. Teaching: She teaches courses on Anthropology of Death, Cultural Anthropology theory, and scientific writing methods. Her pedagogy emphasizes ethnographic fieldwork and qualitative research. Publications: Her recent work analyzes burial policies in Luxembourg, Islamic cemetery adaptations in Northern Europe, and Buddhist activism in Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement. She has published in journals like Culture and Religion and Religions , focusing on ethnographic studies of urban religious practices. Awards: No specific prizes mentioned, though her research has been cited widely in migration and urban studies literature.
Prof. dr. Anke I. Liefbroer is a Professor by special appointment in Religion and Practice at Tilburg School of Catholic Theology, Tilburg University. She focuses on interfaith spiritual care, palliative care dynamics, and the intersection of psychiatry and theology. Her work emphasizes narrative approaches to spiritual well-being and the impact of religious diversity in healthcare settings. Her research explores chaplaincy practices, faith-concordance in therapeutic relationships, and the methodological challenges in studying nonreligion. She has led projects like PLOEG-2 (focusing on palliative care) and contributed to initiatives like the Interfaith Leadership Program Emoena. She serves on editorial boards (e.g., Tijdschrift Psyche & Geloof ) and advisory bodies like the Kenniscentrum voor levensbeschouwing en geestelijke volksgezondheid. Recent studies include analyzing fundamentalism conceptualizations, evaluating spiritual care interventions, and examining client-clinician dynamics in faith-diverse contexts. Her 2025 inaugural speech Met je ziel onder je arm addresses spiritual well-being in secular societies. She was awarded Tilburg University's Teacher of the Year (2023) for integrating academic and practical work. Key research themes include: spiritual care mechanisms, interfaith dialogue in healthcare, and the role of narrative therapy in palliative care. Over 50 publications span peer-reviewed articles, books, and edited volumes, with frequent contributions to Politics and Religion , Palliative Medicine , and Pastoral Psychology .
Jitse van Dijk is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community and Occupational Medicine at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Groningen. He is also affiliated with the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). His roles include serving on multiple national and international committees outside working hours, such as the Appeals Committee of 'Lentis' and the Complaints Committee of the Training Institute PPO. Additionally, he holds visiting academic positions at universities in the Czech Republic, including Lektor Expert at University Olomouc and Visiting Professor at Palacky University's Theological Faculty. His research focuses on public health, occupational medicine, and the psychosocial determinants of health. Key areas include adolescent behavioral health, healthcare provider perspectives, neurology-related social deficits in ADHD, and health inequalities among marginalized groups like the Roma population. He has contributed to studies on digital technology risks for youth, healthcare access for hemodialysis patients, and vaccination hesitancy in the Czech Republic. Dr. van Dijk has supervised numerous PhD dissertations on topics ranging from adolescent health behaviors to healthcare policy analysis in Eastern Europe. His work bridges clinical practice, public health policy, and interdisciplinary collaboration, addressing both individual and systemic health challenges. He is actively involved in European health research initiatives and has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. His committee roles reflect his commitment to resolving disputes in professional education and healthcare systems.
Dr. Anja Visser-Nieraeth is an Assistant Professor in Spiritual Care at the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society , University of Groningen. Her work bridges psychology, spirituality, and healthcare, with a focus on outcome research and wellbeing in spiritual care contexts. Research Interests : Spiritual care, multidisciplinary psychology, outcome assessment, medical and health psychology. Key Collaborations : Co-authored studies with Hanneke Muthert, Hetty Zock, and others on chaplaincy in community care and pluralistic societies. Scientific Recognition : Recipient of the Bert Garssen Award (2013) . Recent Work : Development of the Dutch Chaplaincy Outcome Measure (2025), studies on chaplaincy in primary/community care, and pluralism in Dutch outpatient settings. Teaching & Outreach : Delivered professional presentations on inclusive spiritual care (2024), guest-edited the Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy (2023-2024), and contributed to training materials like the Research Design Canvas .
Carlo Leget (born 1964) is a full professor of care ethics at the University of Humanistic Studies in Utrecht, the Netherlands, a position he has held since 2012. He serves as chair of the care ethics department and is responsible for the Master in Care Ethics & Policy program. Leget is also the director of research at the university and a member of the Health Council of the Netherlands. Previously, he served as vice-president of the European Association for Palliative Care from 2012-2019 and co-founded the EAPC reference group on spirituality. Leget has a background in theology, medical ethics and care ethics. His research focuses on the intersection of care, meaning and end of life issues. He developed the diamond model for existential care at the end of life in secularized societies, based on medieval art of dying traditions. This model has been widely adopted in the Netherlands and Belgium, integrated into medical monitoring systems for palliative patients, and is currently being validated across 7 European countries through the EU-project Raphael. His research spans interdisciplinary collaborations across ethics, philosophy, medical science, nursing science, anthropology, psychology and theology. Current research centers around care ethics development combined with empirical studies on vulnerability across life stages, loss and grief, moral epistemology, and phenomenology. Leget has written three books and numerous scientific papers, some translated into German, Spanish and Portuguese. Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on palliative care ethics, existential dimensions of healthcare, and practical applications of care ethics frameworks across diverse healthcare settings including end-of-life care, dementia care, and pediatric palliative care. His work shows strong integration of theoretical care ethics with practical healthcare applications. Member of the Health Council of the Netherlands Former vice-president of the European Association for Palliative Care (2012-2019) Co-founder of the EAPC reference group on spirituality Director of the Center for Grief and Existential Values Committee member at 's Heeren Loo Advisory board member for 'Nu Niet Zwanger' at GGD GHOR Nederland Leget supervises numerous research projects and has directed 25 supervised works. Current research projects include integrating palliative care approaches for heart failure patients, examining age limits in healthcare legislation, studying vulnerability in families with medically complex children, analyzing ethical dimensions of COVID-19 policy choices, and exploring autonomy in maternal-midwife relationships. He leads the EU-project Raphael which will validate his diamond model across 7 European countries starting in January 2024. Leget directs research activities at the University of Humanistic Studies and leads the Center for Grief and Existential Values. His interdisciplinary teams include collaborators from medical science, nursing, theology, anthropology, and psychology, reflecting his commitment to cross-disciplinary approaches to care ethics and end-of-life issues.
Dr. Grieteke Pool is an Assistant Professor & Clinical Psychologist at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Medical Sciences, affiliated with the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). She specializes in clinical psychology with a focus on psycho-oncology, existential psychotherapy, and patient-clinician relationships. Her research explores coping strategies, therapeutic alliance dynamics, and psychosocial care in chronic illnesses like cancer and epidermolysis bullosa. Pool has contributed to over 20 peer-reviewed publications since 1995, emphasizing qualitative methodologies and patient-centered care. She holds clinical and academic roles in healthcare psychology, including supervision of PhD and clinical psychology trainees. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to good health and well-being.
Annemarie Foppen is a Lecturer and PhD candidate in the Department of Lived Religion and Society at the Faculty of Religion and Theology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She specializes in religious leadership, spiritual care in healthcare contexts, and congregational vitality. Her research employs mixed-methods approaches including qualitative studies and network analysis. Current courses taught include Psychology of Religion and Social Sciences. Her work focuses on palliative care chaplaincy interventions, leadership effectiveness in religious organizations, and the evolving role of religion in post-Christian societies. Notable projects include the PLOEG initiative studying spiritual care in palliative homecare, where she served as Project Researcher (2020–2022). Media engagements include expert commentary on astrology trends among youth (RTLNieuws, 2020), analysis of religious movements (Nederlands Dagblad, 2019), and radio appearances discussing spiritual practices (NPO Radio 1, 2020). She holds ancillary roles at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (2025).
Prof. Jan Hoffenaar is a Professor of Military History at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History, affiliated with the Humanities Research Institute for History and Art History. He also serves as Head of the Scientific Research Department at the Netherlands Institute for Military History (NIMH) in The Hague. His expertise focuses on Cold War military and political dynamics, Dutch military history, and decolonization conflicts. Education: PhD in History from Leiden University (1997) Master's in Modern History from the Free University of Amsterdam (1985) Extensive military training including Top Management Defence Course (2005) and Defense Policy Development Course (1998) Research Interests: Cold War strategy and intelligence NATO-Warsaw Pact dynamics Dutch military contributions to international conflicts Decolonization warfare in Indonesia Military historiography and institutional evolution His research includes leading the 6-volume series Militaire geschiedenis van Nederland , analyzing Dutch military history from 1500 to present. Key Roles: Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the NIOD-NIMH-KITLV Indonesia Decolonization Project Member of the Executive Board of the International Commission of Military History Supervisor of over 10 PhD theses on military topics Publications: Over 50 scholarly works, including monographs on Cold War strategy, NATO defense planning, and Dutch military history. Recent focus on enemy perception during the Cold War and post-WWII security policy. Labs/Teams: Leads large-scale projects at NIMH and collaborates with international institutions like the Euro-Atlantic Conflict Studies Working Group.
Luisa T. Schneider is a Researcher and Principal Investigator (PI) leading the RE-RELATING project, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education. Her work bridges sociolegal systems and intimate lives, focusing on how legal frameworks intersect with personal experiences of inequality. The project explores strategies groups use to navigate legal systems, emphasizing transformative justice. Collaborators include assistant professors Dr. Sandhya Fuchs and Dr. Flávio Eiró de Oliveira, alongside PhD students Anastasiia Omelianiuk and Robbert Dillema. Her research spans social and cultural anthropology, examining homelessness in Germany, carceral systems, and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone. Notable themes include the psychological impacts of displacement, the role of prisons in neoliberal contexts, and the sociocultural dimensions of legal access. Schneider’s work integrates ethnographic fieldwork with critical theory, addressing global inequalities and insecurities. Publications highlight intersections of law, violence, and identity, including analyses of sexual offenses, elder care dynamics, and pandemic impacts on marginalized groups. Her research often critiques Eurocentric frameworks, advocating for decolonized methodologies in trauma healing and social critique.
Puneet K. Bindlish is an Assistant Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), Department of Lived Religion and Society, within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. His work focuses on the intersection of spirituality, Hindu philosophy, leadership, and technology ethics. He holds a PhD in Organizational Behaviour from the Management Development Institute (2015), a Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga from Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University (2014), and a Bachelor's in Mining Engineering from IIT (BHU) Varanasi (2002). Bindlish's research explores spiritual care through Hindu perspectives, integrative intelligence in VUCA contexts, and the role of ancient knowledge in modern challenges like cybersecurity. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in fostering inclusive societies and ethical decision-making. He teaches courses such as 'Spirituality and Sustainability' and 'Integrative Worldviews in Technology.' Notable research themes include spirituality-informed decision-making, Hindu approaches to technology, and holistic dialogues for resolving uncertainty. His publications emphasize interdisciplinary frameworks and cultural adaptations of spiritual practices in contemporary contexts. No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided text. His academic contributions span 41 publications, with a focus on integrating spirituality into management, leadership, and societal challenges. Current research includes projects on AI ethics, cybersecurity, and conflict resolution informed by Hindu philosophy.
Prof. Kees de Groot is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religion and Practice at Tilburg School of Catholic Theology, Tilburg University. He holds the KSGV Chair in Sociology of Worldviews and Public Mental Health (since 2019). His research focuses on ritual dynamics, the intersection of religion and popular culture (particularly comics), and the 'liquidation' of religion in secular spaces. He coordinates the Center for Religion in the Public Sphere (CRiPS) with Prof. Peter Achterberg and Dr. Suzanne Klein Schaarsberg. Education and Career: Previously held roles include Assistant Professor (2002–2024) at Tilburg, lecturerships at Utrecht and Nijmegen theological institutions, and consultancy for church development in Rotterdam (1998–2002). His career spans teaching, research, and practical ministry. Research Interests: Care: Transition from chaplaincy to secular social care (e.g., MST Mensen in beeld houden project) Popular Culture: Comics as religious alternatives (edited Comics, Culture and Religion ) Public Domain: Liquid religion in Dutch society via CRiPS initiatives Publications: Over 250 outputs including Comics and Religion in Liquid Modernity (2023), studies on St. Martin's Day parades, and analyses of religious symbolism in Dutch media. Recent work addresses secularization paradoxes and the role of spirituality in mental health. Awards: Essayprijs 2000 (Dutch sociological essay award), Full member of international academic society (2021), and Visiting Professorship (2017). Advising & Grants: Supervising PhD projects on faith-based care (Christel Teekman) and spirituality in coaching (Jedidja van Boven). Active in research networks like COST Action 20107 on migration and religious diversity. Labs/Teams: Coordinates CRiPS, collaborates with Agder University on comics research, and advises prison chaplaincy programs for the Dutch justice department.
Dr. Evelyn Wan is an Assistant Professor in Media, Arts, and Society at Utrecht University’s Department of Media and Culture Studies. She serves as Programme Coordinator for the MA Arts and Society program, teaches courses on contemporary performance practice, cultural theory, and research methodologies, and contributes to interdisciplinary curriculum innovation in Humane AI. Her research bridges decolonial media studies, performance studies, and AI ethics, weaving alternative genealogies between historical technologies and contemporary AI. Education Research MA Media and Performance Studies (cum laude, Utrecht University, 2014) MA Gender Studies (cum laude, Utrecht University, 2011) Bachelor of Social Sciences (Government and Laws, First Class Honours, University of Hong Kong) Wan’s research explores the ethics of technology through decolonial and gendered lenses, focusing on algorithmic violence, posthuman spirituality, and the necropolitics of digital culture. She combines artistic practice with scholarly inquiry, staging performances that interrogate AI, maritime histories, and mythologies. Her recent publications span topics including AI imaginaries, spectral care methods, and decolonial AI ethics, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach. These works intersect with her creative projects like Archaeologies of AI and Beyond the Shore , which employ inter-Asian ocean histories, gender studies, and religious studies frameworks. Scientific Awards Praemium Erasmianum Foundation Dissertation Prize (2019) Wan’s advisory roles include serving on the Board of Directors for Performance Studies international (PSi) and founding the PSi Future Advisory Board (2014–2019). She integrates artistic practice with academia as a founding member of Hong Kong’s If Time’s Limited artist collective, funded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and Hong Kong Arts Centre.
