Laura Wesseldijk

Dr. Laura Wesseldijk is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC (University of Amsterdam), and a Senior Researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt. Her work bridges behavioral genetics, molecular genetics, and mental health, with a focus on musical engagement and gene-environment interactions.

Education:

• PhD in Behavioral Genetics and Psychopathology (2018), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Research Master in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience (2013), Maastricht University
• Bachelor in Psychology (2011), Maastricht University

Research Interests: She investigates factors influencing musical expertise development, the relationship between music and mental health, and genetic variants affecting musicality. Current projects include studying passive music listening’s impact on mental health and molecular genetic pathways in music-related traits.

Notable Awards and Grants:

• Co-PI on Olle Engkvist Award (2022)
• Co-PI on Primals Research Award (2022)
• Talent Fund for Research Visit (2017)

Advising and Grants: Collaborates with institutions like the Karolinska Institute and Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences. Her grants include studies on psychedelia and mental health, and cross-cultural music research.

Labs/Teams: Works within the Max Planck Institute’s Behavioral Genetics unit and collaborates with international teams on projects like the Vanderbilt Online Musicality Study and the Primals Project.