Elke Vlemincx

Dr. Elke Vlemincx is an Assistant Professor at the Health Sciences department of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam since 2020. She holds adjunct roles in the AMS - Musculoskeletal Health and APH divisions focusing on Health Behaviors & Chronic Diseases and Mental Health. Previously, she worked as an Assistant Professor at Queen Mary University of London (2017–2020) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship across institutions in Ann Arbor, Hamburg, Seattle, and Leuven (until 2017). She earned her PhD in Psychology from KU Leuven in 2010.

Her research focuses on two primary areas: 1) respiratory psychophysiology, exploring breathing patterns' role in stress/emotion regulation and symptom perception, and 2) socioemotional learning in education to enhance student wellbeing and resilience. She pioneered studies on sighs' psychological functions and their implications for mental health interventions. She has published in leading journals like Psychophysiology and Biological Psychology, and served as Past President of the International Society for the Advancement of Respiratory Psychophysiology (2020–2021).

Her recent projects include MASH-up n'HEI (2022–2025), developing socioemotional learning programs, and Level Up (2020–2023), exploring soft skills in higher education. Ancillary activities include coaching roles at ClipGGZ and Hulpkaart since 2024.

Key awards include leadership in the ISARP and a focus on UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and wellbeing. Grants include research on respiratory psychophysiology's role in chronic diseases and pandemic impacts.