Lieke Oldenhof

Lieke Oldenhof is an Associate Professor in the anthropology of the changing welfare state at the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam. She holds a position in the Health Care Governance department and serves on its daily board. Her research focuses on local-level welfare state transformations, emphasizing inclusive solutions to reduce health inequalities through transdisciplinary approaches. She co-founded the CARE Lab Rotterdam to foster action research with citizens, professionals, and policymakers.

Key research themes include wicked societal problems (e.g., health inequalities, digital surveillance), boundary-crossing governance, and personalized support systems. Methodologically, she employs multi-sited ethnography and participatory action research. She has received multiple accolades including the 2019 Frans Rutten Research Award and a 2018 Veni grant for studying public encounters in welfare systems. Her work aligns with UN SDGs addressing health equity and sustainable cities.

• Member of Young Erasmus Academy (involved in Recognition & Rewards Policies)
• WP lead for action research in city living labs across Europe, Latin America, and Africa
• Recipient of Horizon grant for CityMove (active movement interventions)

Her research methods emphasize narrative conversation analysis and shadowing key stakeholders. She has supervised 3 doctoral theses and actively participates in academic committees and examinations.