Jean-Louis van Gelder

Prof. Dr. Dr. Jean-Louis van Gelder is a part-time Full Professor at Leiden University's Institute of Education and Child Studies (Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences) and Director of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law in Germany. His dual roles span academic research and leadership in criminological institutions.

Educational Background: Holds PhDs in Psychology (VU Amsterdam, 2012) and Law (University of Amsterdam, 2009), alongside MA degrees in Law (2002) and Psychology (1999) from the University of Amsterdam.

Research Focus: Specializes in offender decision-making, emotions, personality, and novel technologies like virtual reality (VR) for crime research and rehabilitation. Key initiatives include the FutureU VR intervention, Virtual Burglary Project, and 360º Virtual Scenario Method. Projects emphasize criminological innovation, such as using immersive VR to study criminal behavior and design crime reduction strategies.

Professional Affiliations: Collaborates with institutions like the University of Portsmouth (Visiting Research Fellow) and the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development (University of Zurich). Previously held roles at the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) and the University of Twente.

Grants & Recognition: Secured an ERC Consolidator Grant (2017) for VR-based offender rehabilitation research. Active in interdisciplinary projects addressing crime prevention, youth development, and mental health interventions.